Social desirability and self-reported weight and height
- 31 May 2000
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Nature in International Journal of Obesity
- Vol. 24 (5) , 663-665
- https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801233
Abstract
The present study examines the relationship between the desire to conform to perceived societal norms and the misreporting of weight and height. Self-reported and measured weights and heights for 56 young, healthy non-obese volunteers were assessed and compared to scores on the Marlowe Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSDS). Discrepancies between actual and self-reported weights for females were directly related to actual weight (r=0.66, Pr=0.03). Height was significantly overreported, regardless of gender (Pr=0.51, P<0.0001). Results suggest that the misreporting of weight among young, non-obese women may be directly influenced by the desire to conform to perceived societal norms.Keywords
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