Accuracy of 1-, 5- and 10-year body weight recall given in a standard questionnaire

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Estimation of the accuracy of 1, 5 and 10 y body weight recall. DESIGN: Comparison of information on body weight history from a patient questionnaire with measured body weights retrieved in general practitioners' records. SUBJECTS: Among 729 newly diagnosed diabetic patients record information on measured body weight was found for 86, 141 and 122 patients recalling their body weight 1, 5 and 10emsp14;y ago, respectively. Median age was 63.6 y. Median body mass index was 31.1 kg/m². RESULTS: No average deviation between 1 y body weight recall and the corresponding measured weights is observed, but 5 and 10 y recall underestimates the measured weights by 1.89 kg and 1.98 kg on an average, respectively. On the individual level the agreement is less satisfactory with increasing variability the further back in time you go. The recall does not vary with age and sex and it is independent of weight status, marital status, smoking habits and self-reported health status in this obese group of individuals. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that data from three standard questions may contribute with useful information on near weight history, independent of age, sex and current body weight.