Assessment of factors affecting the validity of self-reported health-risk behavior among adolescents: evidence from the scientific literature.

The intent of this chapter is to enhance understanding of various dietary assessment methods so that the most appropriate method for a particular need is chosen. This review focuses only on individual level food intake assessment. It is intended to serve as a resource for those who wish to assess diet in a research study using individual measurements for group level analysis. The chapter reviews major dietary assessment methods, their advantages and disadvantages, and validity; describes which dietary assessment methods are appropriate for different types of studies and populations; and discusses specific issues that relate to all methods.

Dietary Assessment Methodology

OBJECTIVE: To compare the physical activity (PA) patterns and the hypothesized psychosocial and environmental determinants of PA in an ethnically diverse sample of obese and non-obese middle school children. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS: One-hundred and thirty-three non-obese and 54 obese sixth grade children (mean age of 11.4±0.6). Obesity status determined using the age-, race- and gender-specific 95th percentile for BMI from NHANES-1. MEASUREMENTS: Objective measurements were collected of PA over a 7-day period using the CSA 7164 accelerometer: total daily counts; daily moderate (3–5.9 METs) physical activity (MPA); daily vigorous physical activity (≥6 METs; VPA); and weekly number of 5, 10 and 20 min bouts of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (≥3 METs, MVPA). Self-report measures were collected of PA self-efficacy; social influences regarding PA, beliefs about PA outcomes; perceived PA levels of parents and peers, access to sporting and/or fitness equipment at home, involvement in community-based PA organizations; participation in community sports teams; and hours spent watching television or playing video games. RESULTS: Compared to their non-obese counterparts, obese children exhibited significantly lower daily accumulations of total counts, MPA and VPA as well as significantly fewer 5, 10 and 20 min bouts of MVPA. Obese children reported significantly lower levels of PA self-efficacy, were involved in significantly fewer community organizations promoting PA and were significantly less likely to report their father or male guardian as physically active. CONCLUSIONS: The results are consistent with the hypothesis that physical inactivity is an important contributing factor in the maintenance of childhood obesity. Interventions to promote PA in obese children should endeavor to boost self-efficacy perceptions regarding exercise, increase awareness of, and access to, community PA outlets, and increase parental modeling of PA.

https://lift-off.org.uk/cms/files/determinants_of_physical_activity_in_obese_and_non-obese_children.pdf

Physical activity and determinants of physical activity in obese and non-obese children.

Measuring dietary intake in children enables the assessment of nutritional adequacy of individuals and groups and can provide information about nutrients, including energy, food, and eating habits. The aim of this review was to determine which dietary assessment method(s) provide a valid and accurate estimate of energy intake by comparison with the gold standard measure, doubly labeled water (DLW). English-language articles published between 1973 and 2009 and available from common nutrition databases were retrieved. Studies were included if the subjects were children birth to age 18 years and used the DLW technique to validate reported energy intake by any other dietary assessment method. The review identified 15 cross-sectional studies, with a variety of comparative dietary assessment methods. These included a total of 664 children, with the majority having P

A Systematic Review of the Validity of Dietary Assessment Methods in Children when Compared with the Method of Doubly Labeled Water

Objectives. We examined the association between young adolescents’ dietary behaviors and school vending machines, a la carte programs, and fried potatoes’ being served at school lunch. Methods. Using a cross-sectional study design, we measured a la carte availability and the number of school stores, vending machines, and amounts of fried potatoes served to students at school lunch in 16 schools. Grade 7 students (n = 598) completed 24-hour dietary recall interviews. Results. A la carte availability was inversely associated with fruit and fruit/vegetable consumption and positively associated with total and saturated fat intake. Snack vending machines were negatively correlated with fruit consumption. Fried potatoes’ being served at school lunch was positively associated with vegetable and fruit/vegetable intake. Conclusions. School-based programs that aim to promote healthy eating among youths should target school-level environmental factors.

The Association of the School Food Environment With Dietary Behaviors of Young Adolescents

Dietary Assessment Methods among School-Aged Children: Validity and Reliability

Accurate assessment of dietary intake among preschool-aged children is important for clinical care and research, for nutrition monitoring and evaluating nutrition interventions, and for epidemiologic research. We identified 25 studies published between January 1976 and August 2000 that evaluated the validity of food recalls (n = 12), food frequency questionnaires (n = 9), food records (n = 2), or other methods (n = 2). We identified four studies that evaluated the reproducibility of food frequency questionnaires. Validity studies varied in validation standard and study design, making comparisons between studies difficult. In general, food frequency questionnaires overestimated total energy intake and were better at ranking, than quantifying, nutrient intake. Compared with the validation standard, food recalls both overestimated and underestimated energy intake. When choosing a method to estimate diet, both purpose of the assessment and practicality of the method must be considered, in addition to the vali...

What are preschool children eating? A review of dietary assessment.

Accurate assessment of infant feeding is needed for clinical practice and research. We identified 32 studies that evaluated the validity of direct observation, test weighing, or doubly labeled water methods. Correlations with validation standards were highest for doubly labeled water and test weighing, and lowest for observation. Cost and availability of isotope may limit the doubly labeled water method to research studies, whereas observation may be useful for clinical practice. Test weighing could be applied to either setting, but it may be practical to sample less frequently over 24 hours. Validity results and intended use of the measurement should be considered when selecting a method.

Maria P. Alexander

Papers

Dietary Assessment Methods among School-Aged Children: Validity and Reliability

What are preschool children eating? A review of dietary assessment.

Assessment of infant feeding: the validity of measuring milk intake