{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,16]],"date-time":"2025-12-16T12:45:47Z","timestamp":1765889147824,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":47,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"14","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,7,14]],"date-time":"2023-07-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1689292800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Foundation for Science and Technology\u2014FCT (Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education)","award":["UIDB\/04750\/2020","LA\/P\/0064\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/04750\/2020","LA\/P\/0064\/2020"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Applied Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The assessment of weight status is important in many epidemiological studies, but its direct measurement is not always possible. Self-reported weight and height are often used, although previous research reported low accuracy. This study aimed to test the ability of trained observers to accurately estimate weight status in adults using structured observation. A cross-sectional study was conducted. For each participant, height and weight were estimated in categories, and weight status was recorded using Stunkard\u2019s body figures, by two trained observers. Height and weight were also measured, using standardized procedures. Subjects were classified according to World Health Organization body mass index (BMI) cut-offs from objective measurements and from the BMI assigned to each body figure. Sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios were calculated to assess the accuracy of estimating weight status by observation. Kappa was used to test inter-observer reliability. A total of 127 participants were assessed, 70 women and 57 men, aged between 19 and 89 years (mean \u00b1 standard deviation: 50.3 \u00b1 16.3 years). Most participants were overweight or obese (64.3% women; 78.9% men). The sensitivity and specificity of overweight\/obesity status identification were 72.8% and 78.4%, respectively. Observers\u2019 gender, participants\u2019 gender, and participants\u2019 age were significantly associated with the estimation of overweight\/obesity. The agreement between observers was moderate for BMI estimates (\u03ba = 0.52) but substantial when distinguishing normal weight from overweight\/obesity (\u03ba = 0.67). Trained observers were able to distinguish normal weight from overweight\/obesity with high sensitivity and specificity, and substantial interrater reliability. This innovative methodology showed potential for improvement through enhanced training techniques. The use of structured observation may be a useful and accurate alternative to self-reported weight status assessment, whenever anthropometric measurement is not achievable.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/app13148185","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,7,14]],"date-time":"2023-07-14T08:40:06Z","timestamp":1689324006000},"page":"8185","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Accuracy of Assessing Weight Status in Adults by Structured Observation"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"T\u00e2nia","family":"Jorge","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8389-1758","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sofia","family":"Sousa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculdade de Ci\u00eancias da Nutric\u0327\u00e3o e Alimentac\u0327\u00e3o, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"EPIUnit\u2014Instituto de Sa\u00fade P\u00fablica, Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas 135, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"Laborat\u00f3rio para a Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o Integrativa e Translacional em Sa\u00fade Populacional (ITR), Rua das Taipas 135, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Isabel","family":"do Carmo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1870-1430","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nuno","family":"Lunet","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"EPIUnit\u2014Instituto de Sa\u00fade P\u00fablica, Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas 135, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"Laborat\u00f3rio para a Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o Integrativa e Translacional em Sa\u00fade Populacional (ITR), Rua das Taipas 135, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"Departamento de Ci\u00eancias da Sa\u00fade P\u00fablica e Forenses e Educa\u00e7\u00e3o M\u00e9dica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto Alameda Professor Hern\u00e2ni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6310-4956","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Patr\u00edcia","family":"Padr\u00e3o","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculdade de Ci\u00eancias da Nutric\u0327\u00e3o e Alimentac\u0327\u00e3o, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"EPIUnit\u2014Instituto de Sa\u00fade P\u00fablica, Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas 135, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"Laborat\u00f3rio para a Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o Integrativa e Translacional em Sa\u00fade Populacional (ITR), Rua das Taipas 135, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,7,14]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"307","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-789X.2007.00347.x","article-title":"A comparison of direct vs. self-report measures for assessing height, weight and body mass index: A systematic review","volume":"8","author":"Gorber","year":"2007","journal-title":"Obes. 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