RESUMO
Resumen Introducción: las fotografías de alimentos son ayudas que se utilizan para estimar el tamaño de las porciones en la evaluación dietética. Se ha demostrado que aquellas diseñadas para la población adulta son inapropiadas para evaluar la ingesta en niños. Actualmente, Argentina no cuenta con fotografías de alimentos diseñadas para la población de niños menores de 5 años. Objetivo: construir y validar un atlas fotográfico de alimentos para niños de 1 a 5 años de Argentina. Materiales y método: se realizó un estudio de investigación-acción que se dividió en dos etapas. En la primera se construyó un atlas fotográfico de alimentos y, en la segunda se validó el instrumento mediante un estudio exploratorio observacional transversal con enfoque cuali-cuantitativo llevado a cabo en dos establecimientos educativos de la ciudad de La Plata. El atlas fotográfico cuenta con 77 series de fotografías de alimentos. La validación se llevó a cabo mediante sesiones de percepción visual en tiempo real. Se realizó una valoración de las características visuales y del contenido del atlas por licenciadas en Nutrición mediante una encuesta semiestructurada. Resultados: participaron 168 padres o cuidadores voluntarios, 102 mujeres y 66 hombres. El número total de estimaciones del tamaño de la porción fue de 2856, de las cuales un 65,5% resultaron correctas. Los alimentos estimados por debajo del 60% fueron: sémola, puré de zapallo, zanahoria rallada, manzana, zapallito verde, ensalada de frutas y arroz con leche. El atlas fue valorado por 21 licenciadas en Nutrición, de las cuales a un 47,6% le pareció que el diseño y contenido eran adecuados. Conclusión: si bien se deben mejorar aquellas series que generaron dificultades en la estimación de la porción, el atlas fotográfico de alimentos resultó ser una herramienta útil para estimar la ingesta en niños de 1 a 5 años.
Abstract Introduction: food photographs are aids used in estimating portion sizes in dietary evaluation. Those designed for the adult population have been shown to be inappropriate for evaluating intake in children. Currently, Argentina does not have food photographs designed for the population of children under 5 years of age. Objective: To develop and validate a photographic food atlas for children from 1 to 5 years old in Argentina. Materials and method: an action-research study was carried out, divided into two stages. In the first, a photographic food atlas was develop and in the second, the instrument was validated through an exploratory cross-sectional observational study with a quali-quantitative approach carried out in two educational establishments in the city of La Plata. The photographic atlas has 77 series of food photographs. The validation was carried out through visual perception sessions in real time. An assessment of the visual characteristics and the content of the atlas was carried out by Nutrition Graduates through a semi-structured survey. Results: 168 voluntary parents or caregivers participated, 102 women and 66 men. The total number of portion size estimates was 2,856, of which 65.5% were correct. Foods estimated to be below 60% were semolina, pumpkin puree, grated carrot, apple, zucchini, fruit salad, and rice pudding. The atlas was evaluated by 21 Nutrition Graduates, of which 47.6% thought that its design and content were adequate. Conclusion: although those series that generated difficulties in estimating the portion should be improved, the photographic food atlas turned out to be a useful tool to estimate the intake in children aged 1 to 5.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Visual aids, such as food photographs, are widely used in estimating food quantities in dietary surveys. The present study aimed to assess how accurately Danish adults and children can estimate food portion sizes using 37 series of photographs illustrating four to six different portion sizes under real-life conditions; determine whether adults were more accurate than children; and estimate the error caused by using portion size photographs to estimate weights of foods consumed in macronutrient calculation. METHODS: Six hundred and twenty-two adults and 109 children were recruited in three workplace canteens and in two schools, respectively, to estimate their lunchtime portions based on photographs. Participants were instructed to keep the foods separated on their plate when taking lunch. Participants thereafter estimated their own portions by looking at the relevant series of photographs. The actual food portions were then weighed. RESULTS: The proportion of correct estimations was 42% overall (range 19-77%). The mean difference (%) between estimated and actual weight was 17% (range 1-111%). Small portion size photographs were more often used correctly compared to larger portion photographs. Children had as many correct estimations as adults, although they overestimated portions more. Participants using fractions of (or more than) one photograph to estimate the portion of a food had significantly larger errors. When calculating the macronutrient content of a weekly menu using the estimated portion sizes, protein had the largest error (29%). CONCLUSIONS: When used in a real-life situation, the portion size photographs validated in the present study showed a certain inaccuracy compared to the actual weights.
