Validity of Self-Reported Family History of Obesity
Author Information
Author(s): Ann-Marie Paradis, Louis Pérusse, Gaston Godin, Marie-Claude Vohl
Primary Institution: Laval University
Hypothesis
Can individuals accurately self-report their family history of obesity?
Conclusion
A self-reported measure of family history of obesity is valid, indicating that individuals can accurately identify obesity in their first-degree relatives.
Supporting Evidence
- Self-reported weight and height were significantly correlated with measured values.
- Sensitivity of self-reported family history of obesity was 90.5%.
- Specificity of self-reported family history of obesity was 82.6%.
- Kappa statistic indicated substantial agreement between subjective and objective measures of family history.
Takeaway
People can tell if their family members are obese, and they can report this information accurately.
Methodology
Two cross-sectional studies were conducted to compare self-reported and measured weight and height, and to assess the validity of self-reported family history of obesity.
Potential Biases
Participants may have altered their self-reports due to awareness of subsequent measurements.
Limitations
The sample size for the second study was relatively small, and the accuracy of family member self-reports was not independently verified.
Participant Demographics
Adults aged 18 to 55 years, including 617 participants in study 1 and 78 participants in study 2.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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