Abstract
BackgroundThe assessment of food consumption data using harmonized methodologies at the European level is fundamental to support the development of public policies. Portugal is one of the countries with the most outdated information on individual food consumption.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to describe the design and methodology of the National Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey, 2015-2016, developed to collect national and regional data on dietary habits, physical activity (PA), and nutritional status, in a representative sample of the Portuguese general population (3 months-84 years).MethodsParticipants were selected by multistage sampling, using the National Heath Registry as the sampling frame. Data collection, during 12 months, was harmonized according to European guidelines (EU-MENU, European Food Safety Authority [EFSA]). Computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) was performed on a specific electronic platform synchronized with nutritional composition data and considering the FoodEx2 classification system. Dietary assessment was performed using 24-hour recalls (two nonconsecutive, 8-15 days apart) or food diaries in the case of children aged <10 years, complemented with a food propensity questionnaire; PA data (International Physical Activity Questionnaire [IPAQ], the Activity Choice Index [ACI], and 4-days PA diaries); sociodemographic data, and other health-related data were also collected.ResultsA sample of 6553 individuals completed the first interview, and 5811 participants completed two dietary assessments. The participation rate among eligible individuals was 33.38% (6553/19,635), considering the first interview, and 29.60% (5811/19,635) for the participants with two completed interviews (about 40% in children and adolescents and 20% in elderly individuals). Results of the survey will be disseminated in national and international scientific journals during 2018-2019.ConclusionsThe survey will assist policy planning and management of national and European health programs on the improvement of nutritional status and risk assessment related to food hazards, and the enhancement of PA. The infrastructures and data driven from this Survey are a solid basis to the development of a future national surveillance system on diet, PA, and other health behaviors reproducible over time.
Highlights
Of the many determinants of health, diet is one which can be improved by appropriate intervention measures
At this moment there are two projects working on providing food data comparable between countries: i.e. the DAFNE group and the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) group
Using the criteria proposed by Verger and agreed upon by the Efcosum group, a maximum of 15 countries can provide food consumption data that can be made comparable at the individual level for the whole adult population
Summary
The project ‘European Food Consumption Survey Method (EFCOSUM)’ was undertaken within the framework of the EU Programme on Health Monitoring. EFCOSUM recommends starting to regroup available food consumption data according to the European Food Group system established in the context of COST Action 99 In this way food intake data can be made comparable at the ‘raw edible’ ingredient level. Operationalization of a pan-European food consumption survey With the emergence of multi-centre collaborative epidemiological research and health monitoring programmes it has become increasingly clear that the issue of standardization of methods, measurements and fieldwork is of crucial importance Issues such as sampling procedures, recruitment, fieldwork, use of biomarkers, interviewer qualification and training, and quality control are addressed in detail in this chapter of the report. The data from household budget surveys of 13 European countries (DAFNE project) can fulfil the needs of HIEMS at the food availability level. It is recommended that any country that will carry out a (national) food consumption survey includes the minimum amount of 24-hour recalls that allows a calibration with other countries
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