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Reporting error in weight and height among older adults: Implications for estimating healthcare costs

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  • Cawley, John
  • Maclean, Johanna Catherine
  • Sikora Kessler, Asia

Abstract

Previous research has identified obesity as a major contributor to healthcare costs among older adults. A limitation of this literature is its reliance on self-reported measures of weight and height, which may contain substantial error that can lead to bias in estimates of obesity prevalence and coefficients in healthcare utilization regressions.

Suggested Citation

  • Cawley, John & Maclean, Johanna Catherine & Sikora Kessler, Asia, 2017. "Reporting error in weight and height among older adults: Implications for estimating healthcare costs," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 9(C), pages 122-144.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joecag:v:9:y:2017:i:c:p:122-144
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jeoa.2016.10.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cawley, John & Maclean, Johanna Catherine & Hammer, Mette & Wintfeld, Neil, 2015. "Reporting error in weight and its implications for bias in economic models," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 19(C), pages 27-44.
    2. Courtemanche, Charles & Pinkston, Joshua C. & Stewart, Jay, 2015. "Adjusting body mass for measurement error with invalid validation data," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 19(C), pages 275-293.
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