This study examined whether 1) the immigrant Mexican Americans reported weight and height differently from the non-immigrant Mexican Americans and, 2) self-reporting errors influenced weight classification. A U.S. national sample of 3085 Mexican Americans from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was used to investigate validity using paired t-tests, multiple linear regressions, sensitivity and specificity. While immigrant Mexican American women reported their weight and height higher than non-immigrant women, no significant differences were found between immigrant and non-immigrant Mexican American men. Sensitivity and specificity of weight classification with self-reported weight and height were not different between immigrant and non-immigrant Mexican Americans; however, underweight Mexican Americans showed the lowest sensitivity. Therefore, self-reported weight and height can be used for the purpose of weight classification with immigrant and non-immigrant Mexican Americans, with an exception of underweight Mexican Americans. © 2005 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc.

Mexican Americans Validity Self-reported weight and height Immigrant

immigrant Life Style Student t test Waist-Hip Ratio human middle aged validation process obesity priority journal comparative study Mexico statistical significance Body Image United States Humans male Truth Disclosure female Socioeconomic Factors clinical article linear regression analysis sensitivity and specificity Article adult body weight Nutrition Surveys body height attitude to health Mexican Americans health survey