Trends in energy and macronutrient intakes, body weight and physical activity in female university students (1988–2003), and effects of excluding under-reporters

Abstract

The present study investigated trends in reported energy intake, macronutrient intake, physical activity level (PAL) and body weight and effects of excluding under-reporters (UR). Dietary intake and time spent in sixteen activity categories were recorded by 887 female university students (median age 29 years) from 1988 to 2003. Energy expenditure (EE) and PAL were measured using a factorial method. All data collected were self-reported. Individuals with reported EI:EE , 0·76 were classified as UR. The remainder were classified as nonunder-reporters (NUR). Trends were determined from simple linear regression of median data for each year for the entire cohort (ALL) and for NUR and UR separately, and from multiple regression analysis with the subgroups (NUR and UR) as an additional predictor (BOTH). Prevalence of under-reporting and overweight increased between 1988 and 2003. In ALL and BOTH there were trends to increased body mass, protein intake (g/d and % energy) and carbohydrate intake (% energy only) and decreased fat and alcohol intakes (g/d and % energy). In BOTH there were also increases in reported EI and carbohydrate intake (g/d). None of the trends in NUR was significantly different from those in UR, but some trends in ALL and/or BOTH were not significant when UR were excluded. Trends remaining significant in NUR were increased reported energy intake, protein (g/d) and carbohydrate (g/d) intakes, and decreased fat (% energy only) intake. There were no significant trends in PAL. We conclude that some, but not all, dietary trends were affected by exclusion of UR.

Secular Trends in Energy Intake and Diet Quality in a Mediterranean Population

“…With the exception of a decrease in total energy intake and an increase in fish consumption in men, controlling for energy underreporting did not substantially affect secular trends, neither in food consumption nor in the proportion of men and women meeting recommended national nutrient and food intakes. Our findings are in line with previously reported data showing that some, but not all, dietary trends are affected by the exclusion of energy underreporters [6,26] . However, study findings on energy underreporting vary widely, depending on the characteristics of the population studied and the method used to identify energy underreporters [27] .…”

“…However, study findings on energy underreporting vary widely, depending on the characteristics of the population studied and the method used to identify energy underreporters [27] . In contrast to other studies [26,28] , we found a significant decrease in the prevalence of energy underreporting (from 28.8% in 2000 to 26.6% in 2005). It is interesting to note that participants identified as energy underreporters were older, with higher BMI and lower levels of physical activity than plausible reporters.…”

Social factors and television use during meals and snacks is associated with higher BMI among pre-school children

“…Using such a method has limitations because it does not empirically measure children's energy expenditures, it does not consider the amount of time being physically active, and does not measure the type of physical activity (69,70) . A number of studies have also shown that overweight or obese individuals tend to under-report their dietary intake to a greater extent than lean individuals (71)(72)(73) . Likewise, parents may be under-reporting their children's intake, particularly for snacks rather than meals.…”

Higher Intakes of Energy and Grain Products at 4 Years of Age Are Associated with Being Overweight at 6 Years of Age

“…Although the 24-h dietary recall is often recognized as the best method to estimate dietary intake, some limitations include the reliance on participants' memory, how well selected days represent usual intakes, and the possibility of under-reporting of food intakes (45). A number of studies have shown that overweight or obese individuals tend to under-report to a greater extent than lean individuals (46)(47)(48). Likewise, parents may be under-reporting their children's intake, particularly for snacks rather than meals (49,50).…”