Accuracy in the estimation of children's food portion sizes against a food picture book by parents and early educators.

Validated methodological aids for food quantification are needed for the accurate estimation of food consumption. Our objective was to assess the validity of an age-specific food picture book, which contains commonly eaten foods among Finnish children, for parents and early educators in estimating food portion sizes. The food picture book was developed to assist in portion size estimation when filling in food records in the Increased health and wellbeing in preschools (DAGIS) study. All ninety-five food pictures in the book, each containing three or four different portion sizes, were evaluated at real-time sessions. Altogether, seventy-three parents and 107 early educators or early education students participated. Each participant evaluated twenty-three or twenty-four portions by comparing presented pre-weighed food portions against the corresponding picture from the food picture book. Food portions were not consumed by participants. The total proportion of correct estimations varied from 36 % (cottage cheese) to 100 % (fish fingers). Among the food groups, nearly or over 90 % of the estimations were correct for bread, pastries and main courses ('piece products' such as meatballs and chicken nuggets). Soups, porridges, salads and grated and fresh vegetables were least correctly estimated (<65 % correct estimations). There were small differences in evaluations of berries and fresh fruits, warm vegetables and pastries between the parents and early educators, but other estimations were mostly similar. The children's food picture book was found to be a useful aid for the estimation of food portion sizes. Parents and early educators evaluated the portion sizes with similar accuracy.

Validation of a food quantification picture book and portion sizes estimation applying perception and memory methods.

We tested the applicability of EPIC-SOFT food picture series used in the context of a Hungarian food consumption survey gathering data for exposure assessment, and investigated errors in food portion estimation resulted from the visual perception and conceptualisation-memory. Sixty-two participants in three age groups (10 to <74 years) were presented with three different portion sizes of five foods. The results were considered acceptable if the relative difference between average estimated and actual weight obtained through the perception method was ≤25%, and the relative standard deviation of the individual weight estimates was <30% after compensating the effect of potential outliers with winsorisation. Picture series for all five food items were rated acceptable. Small portion sizes were tended to be overestimated, large ones were tended to be underestimated. Portions of boiled potato and creamed spinach were all over- and underestimated, respectively. Recalling the portion sizes resulted in overestimation with larger differences (up to 60.7%).

Developing an interactive portion size assessment system (IPSAS) for use with children.

Novel methods of assessing dietary intake are required to reduce the participant burden in dietary surveys, improve participation rates and thereby improve the representativeness of the sample and minimise the impact of measuring dietary intake on a subject's food intake during the recording period. One method of reducing the burden placed on participants in recording dietary intake is to replace weighing of foods with estimation of portion size using tools such as food photographs. The interactive portion size assessment system (IPSAS) is an interactive portion size assessment system for use in assessing portion sizes of foods consumed by children aged 18 months to 16 years. The system is computer-based and is designed to be administered during an interview for a food diary or 24-h recall. The portion sizes depicted are age-specific and based on the weights of foods served to children during the UK National Diet and Nutrition Surveys. The system displays digital images of food used to estimate the amount of each food served to the child and the amount of any food left over. Foods are categorised within the system using a three-tier structure. Twenty-seven food group icons are used with two further drop-down menus to select first the food group, then the food category and, finally, the actual food product. Each food is linked to UK food composition codes and all photographs are linked to the weight of the food depicted. Nutritional output is via a companion database. The present study describes the development of the IPSAS and the structure of the system.

Identificação de porções alimentares em fotografias / Identifi cation of food portions in photographs

Different techniques for acquisition of precise data on food ingestion have been applied in consumption research, photographs of food portions included. The aim of this research was to investigate the capacity of individuals to estimate, from direct observation, the size of the food portions photographed, comparing them to the reference portions (real food). It is across-sectional, methodological study on a sample composed of 120 college students from the city of Brasilia-DF, Brazil. The food and the reference portions resulted from the application of a 24-hour recall and Eating Frequency Questionnaire. The research conditions were controlled. There was no consumption of the portions and no nutritional inquiry method associated to the study. The work was based uniquely on the perception of the interviewees. Thirty-one foods, in 3 portion sizes each, were photographed. The estimations were made considering gender, BMI, age and level of education. A total of 3,720 photographs were analyzed, 2,635 answerers out of that (67.42%), associated the reference portion to the photograph showed. Pumpkin and spaghetti were erestimated in 73% and 79% of the analyses, respectively, while the powdered milk chocolate was underestimated in 88% of the analyses. There were no statistical differences between the variables tested. The small percentage of disagreement between the real portions and the photographed ones indicates that the college students did not have difficulty when associating real food to photographs. However, it is suggested that other esearches be conducted in order to associate dietary inquiries to the photographic material in a heterogenic featured sample, in order to judge the memory abilities of the interviewees.

Diferentes técnicas para la obtención de registros exactos de la ingesta de alimentos han sido aplicadas en investigaciones sobre consumo, entre ellas, la fotografía de porciones alimentares. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la capacidad de los individuos para estimar, mediante la observación directa, el tamaño de las porciones alimenticias retratadas en foto, en comparación con las porciones de referencia(alimentos reales). Se trata de un estudio transversal de una muestra compuesta por 120 estudiantes universitarios de la ciudad de Brasilia-DF. La base para los alimentos y porciones de referencia fue el levantamiento del consumo alimentar mediante recordatorio 24 horas y cuestionario de frecuencia alimentar. Las condiciones de la investigación fueron controladas, no hubo consumo de alimentos y no se asoció al estudio ningún método de encuesta alimentar. Se retrataron 31 alimentos, cada uno en 3 porciones diferentes. Las estimativas fueran evaluadas en función del sexo, IMC y curso de graduación. Fueron realizadas 3720 comparaciones de fotos con las porciones de referencia, de estas, 2635 indicaron la foto correspondiente a la porción real, o sea, el índice de aciertos fue de 67,42%. Calabaza y espagueti fueron sobrestimados en 73% y 79%respectivamente, mientras que el chocolate fue subestimado en 88% de las pruebas. No había diferencia estadística significativa entre las variables de la prueba. La baja tasa de discordancia entre las porciones reales y las fotografías indican que los estudiantes no encontraron difi cultades de percepción para asociar los alimentos reales con sus fotografías. Sin embargo, se recomienda la realización de otros estudios en que se relacionen las encuestas alimentarias al material fotográfico en una muestra con características diversas, a fin de juzgar la habilidad para asociar la fotografía al alimento real utilizando la memoria.

Diferentes técnicas para aquisição de registros precisos da ingestão alimentar têm sido aplicadas em pesquisas de consumo, dentre elas, a fotografia de porções alimentares. O objetivo desse estudo foi investigar a capacidade de indivíduos em estimar através de observação direta, o tamanho das porções alimentares fotografadas, comparando-as às porções de referência (alimentos reais). Trata-se de estudo transversal, metodológico, em amostra composta por 120 universitários na cidade de Brasília-DF. Os alimentos e as porções de referência resultam da aplicação de recordatório 24 horas e Questionário de Frequência Alimentar. As condições da pesquisa foram controladas, não houve consumo dos alimentos e não foi associado ao estudo nenhum método de inquérito alimentar, trabalhou-se somente a percepção dos entrevistados. Fotografou-se 31 alimentos, cada um em três porções diferentes. As estimativas foram julgadas em função do sexo, IMC, idade e curso superior. Realizou-se 3.720 análises das fotografias, 2635 respondentes (67,42%)associaram à fotografia apresentada ao alimento real. Abóbora e espaguete foram superestimado sem 73% e 79%, respectivamente, enquanto o achocolatado foi subestimado em 88% das análises. Não houve diferenças estatísticas entre as variáveis testadas. Os pequenos índices de desacordo entre as porções reais e as fotografias indicam que os universitários não encontraram dificuldades de percepção ao associar alimentos reais com as fotografias. Entretanto, sugere-se, que outros estudos sejam conduzidos associando-se métodos de inquéritos dietéticos ao material fotográfico em amostra com características heterogêneas, a fim de julgaras habilidades de associar as fotografias aos alimentos reais com emprego da memória.

A Study on Application of Food Photographs for Estimating Individuals' Dietary Intake / 대한지역사회영양학회지

This study was performed to investigate the validity of food photographs for estimating individuals' dietary intakes and compare it with other dietary assessment methods. Subjects were 7 professors, 2 researchers, 12 dietitian and 16 graduate students majoring in food and nutrition. Among the subjects, 20 subjects had research experiences in the dietary intake survey more than one year while 17 had not. Each subject estimated 50 food portions displayed in computer monitor by comparing with standard food photographs, which were weighed portions of 28 foods from typical Korean diet. No significant differences between the estimated value and the weighed value of 17 (34%) food portions were shown in research-experienced group and those of 14 (28%) food portions were shown in no-researchexperienced group. 24-hour recall was the most frequently-used method for dietary assessment followed by in the order of food frequency questionnaire, dietary record, diet history and weighing method. After estimating food portions by photographs, 30 subjects (81%) were willing to use the method for dietary assessment because of its convenience and easy communication between researcher and subject. This study suggests that digital photography method would be a useful and convenient new instrument for estimating individuals' dietary intake. However, it is necessary to create standard database for food portions and carry out systematic education for food estimation in order to apply this method in the fields.