Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-m8qmq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-24T19:55:01.245Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Underreporting of energy intake from a self-administered food-frequency questionnaire completed by adults in Montreal

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

Daniel Bedard ,
Bryna Shatenstein  and
Sylvie Nadon
Daniel Bedard
Affiliation:
Centre de Recherche, Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, 4565 Queen Mary, Montréal, Québec, Canada, H3W 1W5
Bryna Shatenstein*
Affiliation:
Centre de Recherche, Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, 4565 Queen Mary, Montréal, Québec, Canada, H3W 1W5 Département de Nutrition, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
Sylvie Nadon
Affiliation:
Département de Nutrition, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
*
*Corresponding author: Email bryna.shatenstein@umontreal.ca
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Background:

Energy intake determined from self-reported dietary assessment methods may be underreported. Therefore, it is important that such methods be validated against another with known validity for energy intake or energy expenditure.

Methods:

We investigated potential underestimation of energy intake obtained from our semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) administered between 2000 and 2001 in the metropolitan area of Montreal, Canada. The study population included 246 adults aged 18 to 82 years. The ratio of energy intake to estimated basal metabolic rate (EI/BMR) was used to assess underreporting and physical activity was determined from self-administered questions. Comparison of the EI/BMR ratio with the Goldberg statistical cut-off allowed us to detect individuals who were low energy reporters (LERs). LERs and non-LERs were compared to determine if they differed on sociodemographic, anthropometric and lifestyle variables.

Results:

The EI/BMR ratio was 1.26 for men and 1.32 for women. LERs represented 43% of the sample of individuals. Male LERs accounted for 54% compared with 35% among females. Underreporting of energy intake was highest in men and individuals who were older, heavier, with higher body mass index and lower education level. A higher proportion of male LERs perceived their financial situation as adequate while a greater proportion of female LERs considered themselves poor.

Conclusion:

Our data suggest that underreporting of energy intake from the FFQ was considerable and may bias dietary interpretation. As this was uneven across the sample, it is crucial to recognise the characteristics of LERs in order to increase the validity of reported energy intake.

Keywords

Energy intakeUnderreportingValidationFood-frequency questionnaireAdults
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 7 , Issue 5 , August 2004 , pp. 675 - 681
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2004

References

1Cook, A, Pryer, J, Shetty, P. The problem of accuracy in dietary surveys. Analysis of the over 65 UK national diet and nutrition survey. Journal of Epidemiology Community Health 2000; 54: 611–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2Lafay, L, Mennen, L, Basdevant, A, Charles, MA, Borys, JM, Eschwege, E, et al. Does energy intake underreporting involve all kinds of food or only specific food items? Results from the Fleurbaix Laventie Ville Santé (FLVS) study. International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders 2000; 24: 1500–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3Hill, RJ, Davies, PSW. The validity of self-reported energy intake as determined using the doubly labelled water technique. British Journal of Nutrition 2001; 85: 415–30.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4Goldberg, GR, Black, AE, Jebb, SA, Cole, TJ, Murgatroyd, PR, Coward, WA, et al. Critical evaluation of energy intake data using fundamental principles of energy physiology: 1. Derivation of cut-off limits to identify under-recording. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1991; 45: 569–81.Google ScholarPubMed
5Black, AE, Goldberg, GR, Jebb, SA, Livingstone, MBE, Cole, TJ, Prentice, AM. Critical evaluation of energy intake data using fundamental principles of energy physiology: 2. Evaluating the results of published surveys. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1991; 45: 583–99.Google ScholarPubMed
6Samaras, K, Kelly, PJ, Campbell, LV. Dietary underreporting is prevalent in middle-aged British women and is not related to adiposity (percentage body fat). International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders 1999; 23: 881–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7Johansson, G, Wikman, A, Ahrén, A-M. Hallmans, G, Johansson, I. Undereporting of energy intake in repeated 24-hour recalls related to gender, age weight status, day of interview, educational level, reported food intake, smoking habits and area of living. Public Health Nutrition 2001; 4: 919–27.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8Krebs-Smith, SM, Graubard, BI, Kahle, LL, Cleveland, LE, Ballard-Barbash, R. Low energy reporters vs others: a comparison of reported food intakes. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2000; 54: 281–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9Taren, DL, Tobar, M, Hill, A, Howell, HW, Shisslak, C, Bell, I, et al. The association of energy intake bias with psychological scores of women. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1999; 53: 570–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10Livingstone, MBE, Black, AE. Markers of the validity of reported energy intake. Journal of Nutrition 2003; 133: 895S–920S.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11Johansson, L, Solvoll, K, Bjornehoe, G-EA, Drevon, CA. Under- and overreporting of energy intake related to weight status and lifestyle in a nationwide sample. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1998; 68: 266–74.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12Hivonen, T, Männistö, S, Roos, E, Pietinen, P. Increasing prevalence of underreporting does not necessarily distort dietary surveys. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1997; 51: 297–301.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13Briefel, RR, Sempos, CT, McDowell, MA, Chien, S, Alaimo, K. Dietary methods research in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey: underreporting of energy intake. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1997; 65(Suppl. 4): 1203S–9S.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14Goris, AHC, Meijer, EP, Kester, A, Westerterp, KR. Use of a triaxial accelerometer to validate reported food intakes. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2001; 73: 549–53.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15Shatenstein, B, Nadon, S, Godin, C, Ferland, G. Challenges in developing an instrument to assess overall dietary and nutritional quality. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research 2002; 63(2): 113 [abstract].Google Scholar
16Waksberg, J. Sampling methods for random digit dialing. Journal of the American Statistical Association 1978; 73: 40–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17Block, G, Hartman, AM, Dresser, CM, Carroll, MD, Gannon, J, Gardner, L. A data-based approach to diet questionnaire design and testing. American Journal of Epidemiology 1986; 124: 453–69.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
18Shatenstein, B, Nadon, S, Godin, C, Ferland, G. Validation of a population-based food frequency questionnaire using four food records. Conference Proceedings. International Journal of Epidemiology Supplement, 08 2002, abstract WP120.Google Scholar
19Shatenstein, B, Nadon, S, Godin, C, Ferland, G. Development and validation of a food frequency questionnaire in Montreal. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research 2004; in press.Google Scholar
20Schofield, WN, Schofield, C, James, WPT. Basal metabolic rate. Human Nutrition: Clinical Nutrition 1985; 39C(Suppl. 1): 1–96.Google Scholar
21Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)/World Health Organization (WHO)/United Nations University (UNU). Energy and Protein Requirements. Report of a Joint FAO/WHO/UNU Consultation. Technical Report Series No. 724 Geneva: WHO, 1985.Google Scholar
22Black, AE. The sensitivity and specificity of the Goldberg cut-off for EI:BMR for identifying diet reports of poor validity. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2000; 54: 395–404.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
23Black, AE. Physical activity level from a meta-analysis of doubly labeled water studies for validating energy intake as measured by dietary assessment. Nutrition Reviews 1996; 54: 170–4.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
24Voss, S, Kroke, A, Klipstein-Grobusch, K, Boeing, H. Is macronutrient composition of dietary intake data affected by underreporting? Results from the EPIC–Postdam study. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1998; 52: 119–26.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
25Becker, W, Foley, S, Shelley, E, Gibney, M. Energy under-reporting in Swedish and Irish dietary surveys: implications for food-based dietary guidelines. British Journal of Nutrition 1999; 81(Suppl. 2): S127–31.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
26Mennen, LI, Jackson, M, Cade, J, Mbanya, JC, Lafay, L, Sharma, S, et al. Underreporting of energy intake in four populations of African origin. International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders 2000; 24: 882–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
27Price, GM, Paul, AA, Cole, TJ, Wadsworth, EJ. Characteristics of the low-energy reporters in a longitudinal national dietary survey. British Journal of Nutrition 1977; 77: 833–51.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
28Pryer, JA, Wrijheid, M, Nichols, R, Kiggins, M, Elliot, P. Who are the ‘low-energy reporters’ in the Dietary and Nutritional Survey of British Adults? International Journal of Epidemiology 1997; 26: 146–54.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
29Heywood, P, Harvey, PWJ, Marks, GC. An evaluation of energy intakes in the 1983 Australian National Dietary Survey of Adults. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1993; 47: 604–6.Google ScholarPubMed
30Fogelhom, M, Männistö, S, Vartiainen, E, Pietinen, P. Determinants of energy balance and overweight in Finland 1982 and 1992. International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders 1996; 20: 1097–104.Google Scholar
31Lafay, L, Basdevant, A, Charles, MA, Vray, M, Balkau, B, Borys, JM, et al. Determinants and nature of dietary underreporting in a free-living population: the Fleurbaix Laventie Ville Santé (FLVS) study. International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders 1997; 21: 567–73.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
32Gnardellis, C, Boulou, C, Trichopoulou, A. Magnitude, determinants and impact of under-recording of energy intake in a cohort study in Greece. Public Health Nutrition 1998; 1: 131–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
33Harrison, CG, Galal, OM, Ibrahim, N, Khorshid, A, Stormer, A, Leslie, J, et al. Underreporting of food intake by dietary recall is not universal: a comparison of data from Egyptian and American women. Journal of Nutrition 2000; 130: 2049–54.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
34Rothenberg, E, Bosaeus, I, Steen, B. Evaluation of energy intake estimated by a diet history in three free-living 70 year old populations in Gothenberg, Sweden. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1997; 51: 60–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
35Jonnalagadda, SS, Mitchell, DC, Smiciklas-Wright, H, Meaker, KB, Van Heel, N, Karmally, W, et al. Accuracy of energy intake data estimated by a multiple-pass, 24 hour dietary recall technique. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 2000; 100: 303–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
36Klesges, RC, Eck, LH, Ray, JW. Who underreports dietary intake in a dietary recall? Evidence from the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1995; 63: 438–44.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
37Sunday, SR, Einhorn, A, Halmi, KA. Relationship of perceived macronutrient and caloric content to affective cognitions about food in eating-disordered, restrained, and unrestrained subjects. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1992; 55: 362–71.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
38Kirkley, BG, Burge, JC, Ammerman, A. Dietary restraint, binge eating, and dietary behavior patterns. International Journal of Eating Disorders 1988; 7: 771–8.3.0.CO;2-F>CrossRefGoogle Scholar