Office of Aerospace Medicine Technical Reports
FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-73/10
Title and Subtitle: Height and weight errors in aeromedical certification data
Report Date: June 1973
Authors: Lategola MT, Lynn CA, Folk ED, Booze CF Jr, Lyne PJ
Abstract: The Framingham Relative Weight Index (FRWI) of obesity was described in previous reports as a screening aid for detecting susceptibility to coronary heart disease (CHD). FRWI calculation requires measured values of height and weight but the height and weight values on standard airman medical applications are usually stated estimates of the examinee.
Because such stated (unmeasured) data are vulnerable to error, samples from aeromedical certification sources were examined for errors. In a separate study, the stated and measured weights of 206 ATC personnel were compared. The degree of stated-weight error was substantial and was directly proportional to the degree of underweight or overweight. Due to weight understatement by grossly overweight individuals, the 120.0% FRWI classification of obesity based on stated weight is quite conservative.
Key Words: Stated Height, Stated Weight, Coronary Heart Disease, Aeromedical Screening, Obesity, Blood Pressure, Air Traffic Control Personnel, Age
No. of Pages: 7
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-73/10
Title and Subtitle: Height and weight errors in aeromedical certification data
Report Date: June 1973
Authors: Lategola MT, Lynn CA, Folk ED, Booze CF Jr, Lyne PJ
Abstract: The Framingham Relative Weight Index (FRWI) of obesity was described in previous reports as a screening aid for detecting susceptibility to coronary heart disease (CHD). FRWI calculation requires measured values of height and weight but the height and weight values on standard airman medical applications are usually stated estimates of the examinee.
Because such stated (unmeasured) data are vulnerable to error, samples from aeromedical certification sources were examined for errors. In a separate study, the stated and measured weights of 206 ATC personnel were compared. The degree of stated-weight error was substantial and was directly proportional to the degree of underweight or overweight. Due to weight understatement by grossly overweight individuals, the 120.0% FRWI classification of obesity based on stated weight is quite conservative.
Key Words: Stated Height, Stated Weight, Coronary Heart Disease, Aeromedical Screening, Obesity, Blood Pressure, Air Traffic Control Personnel, Age
No. of Pages: 7
Last updated: Friday, June 1, 2012