SOURCES OF ERROR ASSOCIATED WITH SELF-REPORTS OF FOOD-INTAKE

Many dietary assessment methods are based largely upon self-reports of food intake. One method of collecting dietary intake data is the diet record. Because diet records may be burdensome to maintain, it is likely that adherence to dietary assessment instructions varies among subjects. If subjects rely upon memory to record food items, the accuracy of the diet record is compromised. The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy with which subjects recalled their diet and to identify meal items most frequently omitted from recall. Gender differences in diet recall accuracy as well as the influence of the number of food items consumed were also assessed. This study indicates that the overall number of food items consumed does not influence recall accuracy. However, some food items are more accurately recalled than others. Recall accuracy did not differ by gender, although females were significantly more likely than males to accurately recall desserts. Results of this study indicate that foods most frequently undereported are those less central to a meal.