Average body mass index (BMI) based on self-reported height and weight are underreported unless adjusted
- by Abigail Okrent, Megan Sweitzer and Sabrina Young
- 11/20/2023
Most surveys to determine obesity rates using body mass index (BMI) rely on self-reported height and weight, which often can be misreported. Using both self-reported and measured heights and weights from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), self-reported information in scanner data can be adjusted to reduce measurement error.