RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Routine body size measurement of anthropometric values requires professionals, standardized techniques, and calibrated tools. Therefore, there is a need for easier screening tools such as the self-reported body silhouette (Self-bosi). The aim of this study was to analyze the performance of Self-bosi as a proxy of anthropometric values. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective analytic study of the Health Workers Cohort Study. METHODS: Adult participants of the Health Workers Cohort Study were included. Then, through the calculation sensitivity and specificity of Self-bosi to detect abnormal waist circumference (WC) (≥90 cm for male and ≥80 cm for female participants), elevated body fat percentage (BF%) (≥25% for male and ≥35% for female participants), as well as overweight and obesity (≥25 kg/m2) and obesity (≥30 kg/m2). RESULTS: A total of 2471 male and 5940 female participants were analyzed. Overall, Self-bosi discriminate high WC values (area under the curve [AUC]; male participants: 0.80, female participants: 0.82); increased BF% (AUC: male participants: 0.78, female participants: 0.83); overweight and obesity (AUC: male participants: 0.81, female participants: 0.86); and obesity (AUC: male participants: 0.83, female participants: 0.89). CONCLUSION: Self-bosi is an accurate method to assess increased WC, BF%, obesity, and overweight-obesity in Mexican adults. Given its simplicity and low-cost of the self-reported body silhouette, it might be considered a useful anthropometric screening instrument in large scale epidemiological research.
