Jennie I. Macdiarmid|John Blundell
Assessing dietary intake: Who, what and why of under-reporting
University of Leeds|University of Leeds
underreporting food intake one fundamental obstacles preventing collection accurate habitual dietary intake data prevalence underreporting large nutritional surveys ranges 18 54 whole sample high 70 particular subgroups wide variation studies partly due different criteria used identify underreporters also nonuniformity underreporting across populations consistent differences found men women groups differing body mass index women likely underreport men underreporting common among overweight obese individuals associated characteristics less consistent evidence include age smoking habits level education social class physical activity dietary restraint determining whether underreporting specific macronutrients food problematic methods identify low energy intakes studies attempted measure underreporting specific macronutrients express nutrients percentage energy tended find carbohydrate underreported protein overreported however care must taken interpreting results especially data expressed percentages logical conclusion food items negative health image eg cakes sweets confectionery likely underreported whereas positive health image likely overreported eg fruits vegetables also suggests dietary fat likely underreported however necessary distinguish underreporting genuine undereating duration data collection key understanding problem one widely neglected concerns processes cause people underreport food intakes little work done simply confirmed complexity issue importance obtaining accurate estimates habitual dietary intakes assess health correlates food consumption contrasted poor quality data collected phenomenon considered priority research area moreover misreporting simply nutritionists problem requires multidisciplinary approach including psychology sociology physiology advance understanding underreporting dietary intake studies