Advantages and Disadvantages of an Automated Weighed Intake Dietary Assessment Tool Requiring Minimal Participant Burden for Use at Congregate Meal Sites

Abstract

INACCURATE DIETARY INTAKE DATA CAN RESULT IN erroneous conclusions regarding the link between diet and disease. Embracing alternative dietary assessment technology could equip clinicians, researchers, public health professionals, and policy makers directing diet-related prevention and treatment. All dietary assessment tools have some disadvantages. Self-recall methods are prone to error, 1 Johnson R.K. Yon B.A. Hankin J.H. Dietary assessment and validation. in: Monsen E.R. Van Horn L. Research: Successful Approaches. 3rd ed. American Dietetic Association, Chicago, IL2008: 187-204 Google Scholar , 2 Burrows T.L. Martin R.J. Collins C.E. A systematic review of the validity of dietary assessment methods in children when compared with the method of doubly labeled water. J Am Diet Assoc. 2010; 110: 1501-1510 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (476) Google Scholar , 3 McPherson R.S. Hoelscher D.M. Alexander M. Scanlon K.S. Serdula M.K. Dietary assessment methods among school-aged children: Validity and reliability. Prev Med. 2000; 31: S11-S33 Crossref PubMed Scopus (308) Google Scholar biomarkers require obtaining and handling biological samples, 4 Kuhnle G.G.C. Nutritional biomarkers for objective dietary assessment. J Sci Food Agric. 2012; 92: 1145-1149 Crossref PubMed Scopus (74) Google Scholar direct observation is costly and labor-intensive, 3 McPherson R.S. Hoelscher D.M. Alexander M. Scanlon K.S. Serdula M.K. Dietary assessment methods among school-aged children: Validity and reliability. Prev Med. 2000; 31: S11-S33 Crossref PubMed Scopus (308) Google Scholar , 5 Simons-Morton B.G. Baranowski T. Observation in assessment of children's dietary practices. J Sch Health. 1991; 61: 204-207 Crossref PubMed Scopus (71) Google Scholar , 6 Gray C. Lytle L.A. Mays R. Taylor G. Perry C. Story M. Foods on students' trays when they leave the cafeteria line as a proxy for food eaten at lunch in a school-based study. J Am Diet Assoc. 2002; 102: 407-409 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (10) Google Scholar , 7 Gittelsohn J. Shankar A.V. Pokhrel R.P. West K.P. Accuracy of estimating food intake by observation. J Am Diet Assoc. 1994; 94: 1273-1277 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (64) Google Scholar food photography is under development, 8 Weiss R. Stumbo P.J. Divakaran A. Automatic food documentation and volume computation using digital imaging and electronic transmission. J Am Diet Assoc. 2010; 110: 42-44 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (52) Google Scholar , 9 Swanson M. Digital photography as a tool to measure school cafeteria consumption. J Sch Health. 2008; 78: 432-437 Crossref PubMed Scopus (82) Google Scholar , 10 Six B.L. Schap T.E. Zhu F.M. et al. Evidence-based development of a mobile telephone food record. J Am Diet Assoc. 2010; 110: 74-79 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (151) Google Scholar , 11 Higgins J.A. LaSalle A.L. Zhaoxing P. et al. Validation of photographic food records in children: Are pictures really worth a thousand words?. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2009; 63: 1025-1033 Crossref PubMed Scopus (48) Google Scholar , 12 Williamson D.A. Allen H.R. Martin P.D. Alfonso A.J. Gerald B. Hunt A. Comparison of digital photography to weighed visual estimation of portion sizes. J Am Diet Assoc. 2003; 103: 1139-1145 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (230) Google Scholar and weighing food before and after consumption is arduous. 5 Simons-Morton B.G. Baranowski T. Observation in assessment of children's dietary practices. J Sch Health. 1991; 61: 204-207 Crossref PubMed Scopus (71) Google Scholar , 13 Kretch M. Fong A. Validation of a new computerized technique for quantitating individual dietary intake: The National Evaluation Scale System (NESSy) vs the weighed food record. Am J Clin Nutr. 1990; 51: 477-484 Crossref PubMed Scopus (23) Google Scholar Even computer-guided technology, such as the Nutrition Evaluation Scale System, requires highly motivated subjects. 13 Kretch M. Fong A. Validation of a new computerized technique for quantitating individual dietary intake: The National Evaluation Scale System (NESSy) vs the weighed food record. Am J Clin Nutr. 1990; 51: 477-484 Crossref PubMed Scopus (23) Google Scholar , 14 Kretsch M.J. Fong A.K.H. Validity and reproducibility of a new computerized dietary assessment method: Effects of gender and education level. Nutr Res. 1993; 13: 133-146 Crossref Scopus (5) Google Scholar K. E. Spears is an assistant professor, Department of Nutrition, College of Agriculture, Biotechnology, and Natural Resources, and a nutrition state specialist, College of Cooperative Extension, University of Nevada, Reno. H. L. Himler is an adjunct faculty member, Department of Nutrition, College of Agriculture, Biotechnology, and Natural Resources, University of Nevada, Reno.