The Accuracy of Self-Reported Body Weight Is High but Dependent on Recent Weight Change and Negative Affect in Teenage Girls

Background: Research studies often rely on self-reported weight to calculate body mass index. The present study investigated how the accuracy of self-reported body weight in adolescent girls is affected by overweight/obesity, race/ethnicity, and mental health factors. Methods: In a cohort of girls who participated in the Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls at ages 11 and 17 (n = 588), self-reported and measured weight were compared, and linear regression models were fitted to model the over- or underreporting. The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) was used to calculate depressive symptom subscales for negative affect, anhedonia and somatic symptoms. Results: Allowing 3% difference between self-reported and measured weight for the correct reporting of body weight, 59.2% of girls reported their weight correctly, 30.3% underreported (-5.8 +/- 4.8 kg), and 10.5% overreported (4.3 +/- 3.5 kg). The average difference between self-reported and measured body weight was -1.5 +/- 4.3 kg (p < 0.001). Factors for misreporting body weight were overweight (beta +/- SE - 2.60 +/- 0.66%), obesity (beta +/- SE - 2.41 +/- 0.71%), weight change between ages 11 and 17 (beta +/- SE - 0.35 +/- 0.04% for each kg), height change between ages 11 and 17 (beta +/- SE 0.29 +/- 0.10% for each cm), and negative affect (beta +/- SE - 0.18 +/- 0.08% for each score unit). Conclusions: The difference between self-reported and measured body weight in adolescent girls is relatively small. However, the accuracy of self-reported body weight may be lower in girls with overweight or obesity, recent weight and height change, and higher negative affect.