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Accuracy of estimates of food portion size using food photographs – the importance of using age-appropriate tools

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

Emma Foster ,
John NS Matthews ,
Michael Nelson ,
Julie M Harris ,
John C Mathers  and
Ashley J Adamson
Emma Foster*
Affiliation:
Human Nutrition Research Centre, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, William Leech Building, Medical School, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
John NS Matthews
Affiliation:
School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Michael Nelson
Affiliation:
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, King's College London, London, UK
Julie M Harris
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
John C Mathers
Affiliation:
Human Nutrition Research Centre, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, William Leech Building, Medical School, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
Ashley J Adamson
Affiliation:
Human Nutrition Research Centre, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, William Leech Building, Medical School, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
*
*Corresponding author: Email Emma.Foster@ncl.ac.uk
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Abstract

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Background

In order to obtain a measure of nutrient intake, a measure or estimate of the amount of food consumed is required. Weighing foods imposes a large burden on subjects, often resulting in underreporting. Tools are available to assist subjects in providing an estimate of portion size and these include food photographs. The application of these tools in improving portion size estimation by children has not been investigated systematically.

Objectives

To assess the accuracy with which children are able to estimate food portion sizes using food photographs designed for use with adults, and to determine whether the accuracy of estimates is improved when age-appropriate portion size photographs are provided.

Design

Original data from three separate studies, on the accuracy of portion size estimates by adults using food photographs, by children using adult photographs and by children using age-appropriate photographs, are analysed and compared.

Subjects

One hundred and thirty-five adults aged 18 to 90 years and 210 children aged 4 to 11 years.

Results

Children's estimates of portion sizes using age-appropriate food photographs were significantly more accurate (an underestimate of 1% on average) than estimates using photographs designed for use with adults (an overestimate of 45% on average). Accuracy of children's estimates of portion size using age-appropriate photographs was not significantly different from that of adults. Children overestimated a food's weight by 18% on average and adults underestimated by 5%.

Conclusions

Providing children with food photographs depicting age-appropriate portion sizes greatly increases the accuracy of portion size estimates compared with estimates using photographs designed for use with adults.

Keywords

Portion size estimationFood photographsChildrenAdults
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 9 , Issue 4 , June 2006 , pp. 509 - 514
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2006

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