Estimation of Energy Intake

Question 1

Dietary data collection techniques

Answer 1

Weighed food records

Estimated food records

Observation

24-hour recall interviews.

Food frequency questionnaires.

Dietary history

Question 2

Advantages and disadvantages of weighed food diary

Answer 2

Advantages:
Accurate – ‘Gold-Standard’.

Disadvantages:
Time consuming (client + sport nutritionist).
Trained personnel.
Literate and cooperative clients.
Distorts food choice

Question 3

Advantages and disadvantages of estimated food diary

Answer 3

Advantages:
Information about eating habits.
Fairly valid up to 5-days.
Provides detailed information.

Disadvantages:
Compliance issues (4-days +).
Unrepresentative.
Underestimates EI (20-50%).

Question 4

Advantages and disadvantages of 24-Hour Recall Interviews

Answer 4

Advantages:
Minimal distortion off food intake, low respondent burden, good response rate, low administration cost.

Disatvantages:
Not representative of usual intake, unless repeated at random, memory/recall bias, underestimates total EI, estimates of portion sizes required