Comparison of measured and self-reported anthropometric information among firefighters: implications and applications

Details

• Personal Author:
  Ferri R ; Hsiao H ; Hsiao J ; Kau T-Y ; Weaver D ; Whisler R ; Whitestone J
• Description:
  This study evaluated the accuracy of self-reported body weight and height compared to measured values among firefighters and identified factors associated with reporting error. A total of 863 male and 88 female firefighters in four US regions participated in the study. The results showed that both men and women underestimated their body weight (-0.4 +/= 4.1, -1.1 +/= 3.6 kg) and overestimated their height (29 +/= 18, 17 +/= 16 mm). Women underestimated more than men on weight ( p = 0.022) and men overestimated more than women on height (p < 0.001). Reporting errors on weight were increased with overweight status (p < 0.001) and were disproportionate among subgroups. About 27% men and 24% women had reporting errors on weight greater than +/= 2.2 kg, and 59% men and 28% women had reporting errors on height greater than 25 mm. Practitioner Summary: This study along with literature revealed that the self-reported approach is not a sustainable option for anthropometric surveys, even for gathering data from physically active professional groups, such as firefighters, who presumably are knowledgeable of their body dimensions. Self-reported anthropometric information is undependable in important population subgroups. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Body Weight Firefighters Fires Men Occupational Health Safety Women
• Keywords:
  Anthropometry Author Keywords: Weight Body-weight Fire-fighters Fire-fighting-equipment Firefighter Height Height-factors Humans Obesity Self-reported Statistical-analysis Weight-factors

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• ISSN:
  0014-0139
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Michigan ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSR - Division of Safety Research
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  57
• Issue:
  12
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20045063
• Citation:
  Ergonomics 2014 Dec; 57(12):1886-1897
• Contact Point Address:
  Hongwei Hsiao, Division of Safety Research, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Morgantown, WV 26505
• Email:
  hxh4@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2015
• NORA Priority Area:
  Public Safety
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Ergonomics
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:cd0823f4d319406026955a41cdf663ccebca54701ac7a6e2c01d50e04c229c9247060ed42ce26d3efdea7e79229db8155817def4272eff4237f13ba8a07942b6
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/200602/cdc_200602_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 130.80 KB ]