Perception of body image as indicator of weight status in the European union.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the factors associated with an adequate perception of body image in relation to body weight. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted in a representative sample of the European Union (7,155 men and 8,077 women). Body Mass Index (BMI) was grouped into four categories, perceived body image was assessed using the nine silhouettes drawing scheme. A multivariable logistic regression model for each sex was used to adjust for potentially confounding variables. RESULTS: Underweight men and women classified themselves better than other groups (92.9% of correct answers among men and 79.3% among women). Overall, women classified themselves better than men (57.6% vs. 32.7%). DISCUSSION: Perceived body image as a method of assessment for body weight has different validity depending on sociodemographic or attitudinal categories. Perceived body image as an estimate of the nutritional status has a limited individualized application. Thus, perhaps it could be applied as a proxy measure of adiposity among slim males and among slim and overweight females, but not among the other groups.

Underestimation of body mass index through perceived body image as compared to self-reported body mass index in the European Union.

An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted in a representative sample of the European Union (7155 men and 8077 women) to calculate the underestimation of body weight as assessed by body image among the overweight and obese population and identify the associated factors to this behavior. Participants were older than 15 years and they were living in the 15 European Union countries. Body mass index (BMI) was grouped into 4 categories using the cutpoints established by the WHO, while perceived body image (PBI) was assessed using a nine-silhouettes drawing. The degree of underestimation between PBI as compared to BMI was identified in overweight and obesity categories of BMI. A multivariable logistic regression model for each gender was used to adjust for potentially confounding variables. Men classified themselves worse than women, being more likely to underestimate their body weight (65.2% of men underestimated their weight vs 32.2% women), regardless of other socioeconomic and attitudinal variables. The greatest degree of underestimation was observed in Mediterranean individuals (68.7% of men and 37.9% of women underestimated their weight). The subjects in the 'maintenance' stage of physical activity tended more often to wrongly select their actual image (71.8% for men and 38.7% for women).

Questionnaire assessment of antioxidants and retinol intakes in Mexican women.

BACKGROUND: In order to assess intake of antioxidants and retinol, we evaluated the validity and reproducibility of a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. METHODS: Data were collected from 110 women, aged 15-54 years, who resided in the southern part of Mexico City. Study participants were asked to complete the food frequency questionnaire before and after completing four series of 4 days of 24-h diet recalls. We obtained the 24-h recalls at 3-month intervals designed to account for seasonal variability. In addition, we measured serum blood levels of retinol and various carotenoids at 3 and 9 months after baseline. RESULTS: Intraclass correlation coefficients for intake of energy-adjusted daily nutrients, assessed by the questionnaires 1 year apart, ranged from 0.23 for lutein/zeaxanthin to 0.50 for total carotenes. Correlation coefficients between energy-adjusted nutrient intakes were measured by means of the sixteen 24-h dietary recalls, and the second questionnaire ranged from 0.09 for lutein/zeaxanthin to 0.45 for total carotenes. These correlations were higher after adjusting for day-to-day variations in diets ranging from 0.11 for lutein/zeaxanthin to 0.49 for vitamin C. Correlation coefficients between intake and biochemical measures were 0.32 for alpha-carotene, 0.34 for beta-carotene, and 0.40 for total carotene after adjusting for age, body mass index, cholesterol and triglyceride plasma levels, smoking status, and caloric intake. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the ability of our food frequency questionnaire to provide valid information on the relative intake of these nutrients and to confirm its usefulness in epidemiological studies of diet-disease relations. However, its application outside Mexico City or in different age or gender populations will require additional modifications and validation efforts.

Validity and reproducibility of a food frequency questionnaire to assess dietary intake of women living in Mexico City.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the reproducibility and validity of a 116 item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), designed to assess the relation between dietary intake and chronic diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: To test the reproducibility of the FFQ questionnaire, the FFQ was administered twice to 134 women residing in Mexico City at an interval of approximately one year; to assess the validity we compared results obtained by the FFQs with those obtained by four 4-day 24-hour recalls at three month intervals. Validity and reproducibility were evaluated using regression analysis and Pearson and intraclass correlation coefficients of log-e and calorie-adjusted nutrient scores. RESULTS: Mean values for intake of most nutrients assessed by the two food frequency questionnaires were similar. However, means for the 24-hr recall were significantly lower. Intraclass correlation coefficients for nutrient intakes, assessed by questionnaires, administered one year apart, ranged from 0.38 for cholesterol to 0.54 for crude fiber. Correlation coefficients between energy-adjusted nutrient intakes, measured by diet recalls, and the first FFQ ranged from 0.12 for polyunsaturated fatty acids to 0.67 for saturated fatty acids. Regression coefficients between 24-hr recall and FFQ,s were all significant were significant for all nutrients, except for polyunsaturated fat, folic acid, vitamin E and Zinc. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that this semi-quantitative FFQ is reproducible and provides a useful estimate by which to categorize individuals by level of past nutrient intake. However, its application outside Mexico City or in different age and gender populations will require additional modifications and validation efforts.

Validity and reproducibility of a food frequency questionnaire to assess dietary intake of women living in Mexico City

Objetivo. Evaluar la reproducción y validez de un cuestionario semicuantitativo de frecuencia de consumo de alimentos, para ser utilizado en estudios epidemiológicos sobre enfermedades crónicas. Material y métodos. Para evaluar la reproduccibilidad del cuastionario de frecuencia de consumo se comparó el resultado obtenido al aplicar la encuesta a 134 mujeres en dos tiempos separados por 12 meses. Para evaluar la validez del cuastionario, comparamos los resultados obtenidos a partir de su aplicación, con el promedio de 16 recordatorios de 24-horas, los cuales se obtuvieron en el transcurso de 12 meses. Para estimar la validez utilizamos modelos de regresión y correlación de Pearson. Para evaluar la reproducibilidad estimamos la correlación intraclase entre los cuestionarios de frecuencia de consumo. Resultados. Las ingestas promedio diarias estimadas por los cuestionarios de frecuencia de consumo fueron similares. Sin embargo, las medias estimadas mediante los recordatorios de 24 horas fueron significativamente menores. Las correlaciones intraclase entre los cuestionarios de frecuencia de consumo aplicados 12 meses aparte, variaron entre 0.38 para colesterol y 0.54 para fibra cruda. Las correlaciones ajustadas por calorías entre el primer cuestionario y la media de los recordatorios variaron entre 0.12 para ácidos grasos polinsaturados y 0.67 para ácidos grasos saturados. En el análisis de regresión observamos asociaciones estadísticamente significativas para casi todos los nutrientes, excepto para grasas polisaturadas, ácido folico, vitamina E y zinc Conclusiones. Los resultados indican que el cuestionario es útil para evaluar la ingesta dietética. Sin embargo, su utilización en poblaciones con diferente estructura de edad y género o ubicación geográfica requerirá de acciones adicionales para garantizar su validez y reproducibilidad