Investigating the accuracy of parentally reported weights and lengths at 12 months of age as compared to measured weights and lengths in a longitudinal childhood genome study. Issue 8 (4th August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hazrati, Sahel; Hourigan, Suchitra K; Waller, Allison; Yui, Yvonne; Gilchrist, Nancy; Huddleston, Kathi; Niederhuber, John
• Is Part Of: BMJ open. Volume 6:Issue 8(2016)
• Publication Date: 2016-08-04
• Subjects: Self-reported data -- Validation -- Early childhood obesity; Medicine -- Research -- Periodicals; 610.72
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-011653
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2044-6055

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Childhood obesity studies rely on parentally reported anthropometrics. However, the accuracy of such data has not been evaluated for 12-month-old children. Moreover, methods to improve the accuracy of reported data have not been assessed in prior studies. Methods: A total of 185 children enrolled in a northern Virginia childhood longitudinal cohort genomic study had parentally completed surveys at 12 months. Measured weights and lengths were recorded for the same children from their 12-month paediatrician visit. Weight for length percentiles were calculated using World Health Organization gender-specific growth charts. The agreement between reported and measured values was examined using Pearson's correlation, paired t-test and κ statistics. The interquartile outlier rule was used to detect and remove outliers. Results: Parentally reported weight was strongly associated with measured weight at 12 months (r=0.90). There was only a moderate correlation between parentally reported and measured lengths (r=0.52) and calculated weight for length percentiles (r=0.65). After removing outliers from parentally reported data, there was an increase in correlation between parentally reported and measured data for weight (r=0.93), length (r=0.69) and weight for length percentiles (r=0.76). Outliers removed compared to all children included were more likely to have maternal education less than a bachelor's degree (p=0.007). Conclusions: After removal of outliers from reported data, there is a strong correlation between calculated reported and measured weight for length percentiles suggesting that this may be an effective method to increase accuracy when conducting large-scale obesity studies in young children where study costs benefit from using parentally reported data.