How Much Do You Weigh?: Determinants of Validity of Self-Reported Body Weight

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Although researchers often employ self-report measures of current body weight, the validity of such self-reports remains questionable. The present experiment with 133 college women examined such self-reports under two conditions—reporting prior to unanticipated objective weighing (Order 1) versus reporting subsequent to weighing without weight disclosure (Order 2). Analysis indicated significantly less accurate, particularly underestimated, self-reports for Order 1 than for Order 2. Moreover, for Order 1 but not Order 2, under-reporting was disproportionately related to objectively heavier weight and was also predictable from lower personal weight ideals independent of actual weight. Findings and their implications for investigation were viewed from a social self-presentational framework.