Can self-estimates of body weight and height be used in place of measurements for college students?

A study was conducted to determine how accurately college students can estimate their height and body weight. Four hundred and sixty-nine students (136 females and 333 males) completed a short questionnaire eliciting self-estimates of height and weight, frequency and recency of measuring them, age, and gender. Immediately afterwards, their height and weight were measured. Three hundred and forty-nine subjects were told that they would be measured later; the others were not told that they would be measured. Analysis of the data revealed relatively small absolute errors of estimation (1.00—3.54%); both males and females overestimated height and underestimated weight; females estimated weight less accurately and height more accurately than males; and knowing that one's estimation would be checked by measurement produced slightly more accurate estimations. Simple self-estimates of height and weight are accurate enough to be used in place of measurements.