What is already known on this subject?

Warning View the most recent version.

Archived Content

Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please "contact us" to request a format other than those available.










  • Self-reported data underestimate the true prevalence of obesity and overestimate the relationship between obesity and obesity-related health conditions.

  • For fiscal and logistical reasons, most population health surveillance in Canada is based on self-reported information.

What does this study add?

  • Correction factors can be generated to adjust self-reported data to produce more accurate estimates of obesity.

  • Although not perfectly predictive of the measured values of body mass index (BMI), corrected values are an improvement over self-reported estimates.

  • For future studies examining BMI for adult populations, based on data from the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey, corrected estimates of BMI are recommened.