OBJECTIVE: To assess the reliability of the classification for nutritional status and height-for-age when using self-reported weight and height and its relationships with self-reported data of body image perception and satisfaction among adolescents. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 304 adolescents before they had measured their height and weight, they self-reported these measures, they were asked about their body shape perception and body image classification was obtained by using a body silhouette scale. It was also used specific tests to assess body satisfaction and food behavior. RESULTS: It was found full agreement between height-for-age classification using self-reported and measured height (k = 1.00) and an intermediate level of agreement between body mass index calculated with self-reported and measured data (k < 0.75). However, adolescents who perceived themselves as "skinny" underestimated their self-reported body mass index whereas those who perceived themselves as "fat" overestimated it. Those who perceived themselves as fat in the silhouette scale underestimated their body mass index. Gender was also a factor for unreliable answers, as females tended to underestimate their self-reported body mass index and males to overestimate it. CONCLUSION: The adolescents adequately self-reported weight and height information. However, body shape perception and body image classification were factors affecting answer reliability.
Adolescent; body weight; body height; validity; body image
