160270 Rapid assessment of height, weight and body mass index for epidemiological studies: A validation study of the BioMeasure Youth Device

Monday, November 5, 2007

Christina Mushi-Brunt, MPH , School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN
Gilbert C. Liu, MD , Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN
Gregory Steele, DrPH, MPH , Dept. of Public Health, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
Brian Lucas, MS , Ruth Lilly Health Education Center, Indianapolis, IN
Mark Sothmann, PhD , School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN
Diana Ruschhaupt, MS , Ruth Lilly Health Education Center, Indianapolis, IN
Marsha Wheatcraft, MPH , Ruth Lilly Health Education Center, Indianapolis, IN
Julian Peebles , Ruth Lilly Health Education Center, Indianapolis, IN
Background: Body mass index (BMI) is among the most frequently used methods for defining weight status. BMI is calculated based upon weight and height values. With the increase in epidemiological studies assessing the prevalence and correlates of obesity, time-efficient, yet accurate methods of measuring height and weight are important. The BioMeasure Youth Device (BYD) (Glenview Health Systems, IL) has recently been developed to rapidly measure height and weight and calculate BMI.

Objective: This methods comparison study examined the reliability and validity of anthropometric data obtained from the BYD compared to standard methods.

Methods: Eighth grade students were measured by trained health educators using the both methods. Intra-class correlations between methods were assessed. Bland-Altman plots were constructed to determine agreement between the two measurement methods. Specificity, sensitivity and area under ROC curves were determined.

Results: Data from 485 adolescents were analyzed. Mean difference between measurement methods was 0.15 ± 0.33 kg for weight and 0.01± 0.01m for height. There was no statistically significant difference in BMI values calculated using data from the standard vs. BYD method. Differences were not statistically significant. Differences in coefficients of variation between the methods were within 0.0%-0.2%. The ICCs were high for both weight and height (0.992 and 0.999, respectively). The sensitivity of the BYD for accurately classifying an at-risk of overweight adolescent was 98.9%, but had a 31.4% chance of misclassification.

Conclusions: The BYD is an adequate tool for obtaining anthropometric measurements from early adolescents for epidemiological study.

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the procedures for calculating body mass index 2. Evaluate the reliability and validity of a new method for obtaining anthropometric data 3. Discuss the use of rapid assessment of anthropometric data for epidemiological studies

Keywords: Obesity, Methodology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Chronic Disease Epidemiology Roundtable
See more of: Epidemiology