Self-reported and measured weight, height and body mass index (BMI) in Italy, the Netherlands and North America.

Background: Self-reported values of height and weight are used increasingly despite warnings that these data-and derived body mass index (BMI) values-might be biased. The present study investigates whether differences between self-reported and measured values are the same for populations from different regions, and the influences of gender and age.

Methods: Differences between self-reported and measured weights, heights and resulting BMIs are compared for representative samples of the adult population of Italy, the Netherlands and North America.