Improved reporting of habitual food intake after confrontation with earlier results on food reporting

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to improve the reporting of food intake by confronting subjects with their way of reporting food intake, e.g. under-recording and/or undereating. To minimize portion size errors, eighteen female dietitians were recruited as subjects. Energy- and water intake were measured for 1 week with a weighed dietary record. Resting metabolic rate was measured with an open-circuit ventilated-hood indirect calorimeter, and physical activity was measured with an accelerometer for movement registration. Water loss was estimated with 2H-labelled water. Energy balance was checked for by measuring empty body-weight 1 week before the start, at the start and at the end of the recording week. In the first part of the study, the change in body weight in the non-recording week was 0·14 kg and in the recording week -0·45 kg (P 0·02), indicating 12 % undereating. Total water intake closely matched measured water loss, indicating a high recording precision. There was under-reporting of habitual food intake that could be fully explained by undereating. In the second part of the study, subjects were confronted with these results and the protocol was repeated. This time there was no significant change in body weight in the recording week, indicating no undereating. The reporting of habitual food intake had been improved. In conclusion, in the studied group of highly motivated lean women, under-reporting of habitual food intake (here due to undereating) could be eliminated by confrontation with the results of this phenomenon.