How accurate are adolescents in portion-size estimation using the computer tool Young Adolescents' Nutrition Assessment on Computer (YANA-C)?

Abstract

Computer-administered questionnaires have received increased attention for large-scale population research on nutrition. In Belgium-Flanders, Young Adolescents' Nutrition Assessment on Computer (YANA-C) has been developed. In this tool, standardised photographs are available to assist in portion-size estimation. The purpose of the present study is to assess how accurate adolescents are in estimating portion sizes of food using YANA-C. A convenience sample, aged 11-17 years, estimated the amounts of ten commonly consumed foods (breakfast cereals, French fries, pasta, rice, apple sauce, carrots and peas, crisps, creamy velouté, red cabbage, and peas). Two procedures were followed: (1) short-term recall: adolescents (n 73) self-served their usual portions of the ten foods and estimated the amounts later the same day; (2) real-time perception: adolescents (n 128) estimated two sets (different portions) of pre-weighed portions displayed near the computer. Self-served portions were, on average, 8 % underestimated; significant underestimates were found for breakfast cereals, French fries, peas, and carrots and peas. Spearman's correlations between the self-served and estimated weights varied between 0·51 and 0·84, with an average of 0·72. The k statistics were moderate (. 0·4) for all but one item. Pre-weighed portions were, on average, 15 % underestimated, with significant underestimates for fourteen of the twenty portions. Photographs of food items can serve as a good aid in ranking subjects; however, to assess the actual intake at a group level, underestimation must be considered.

Reduction of Portion Size and Eating Rate Is Associated with BMI-SDS Reduction in Overweight and Obese Children and Adolescents: Results on Eating and Nutrition Behaviour from the Observational KgAS Study

“…We used elements (pictures) of the validated instrument YANA-C that was computer based, extended the measurement of portion sizes to meals other than pasta (e.g. French fries, breakfast cereals) and designed for self-report of food intake in adolescents [24,25] . Not only the methods but also the purpose of our assessment differed as our instrument sought to estimate unobserved portion size without parental supervision or the presence of peers.…”

“…A 7th option was given as the largest portion size plus an extra helping. The pasta meal was chosen as it is broadly known and liked by children and adolescents [25] .…”

Food intake of European adolescents in the light of different food-based dietary guidelines: results of the HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) Study

“…Selfreported dietary intake tends to be particularly problematic in adolescents (59) and the 24 h recall used in HELENA was identified to have substantial under-reporting bias (23,60) . Therefore, under-and over-reporters were excluded for analysis.…”

Relative validity of the Children's Eating Habits Questionnaire–food frequency section among young European children: the IDEFICS Study

“…The program consists of a single 24-HDR structured according to six meal occasions (breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner and evening snack) embedded in questions related to a range of chronological daily activities (26)(27)(28)(29) . Proxies were asked to recall all food and drinks consumed the previous day by their child.…”