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Validity of self-reported energy intake in lean and obese young women, using two nutrient databases, compared with total energy expenditure assessed by doubly labeled water

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 55, pages 940–950 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To compare self-reported total energy intake (TEI) estimated using two databases with total energy expenditure (TEE) measured by doubly labeled water in physically active lean and sedentary obese young women, and to compare reporting accuracy between the two subject groups.

Design: A cross-sectional study in which dietary intakes of women trained in diet-recording procedures were analyzed using the Minnesota Nutrition Data System (NDS; versions 2.4/6A/21, 2.6/6A/23 and 2.6/8.A/23) and Nutritionist III (N3; version 7.0) software. Reporting accuracy was determined by comparison of average TEI assessed by an 8 day estimated diet record with average TEE for the same period.

Results: Reported TEI differed from TEE for both groups irrespective of nutrient database (P<0.01). Measured TEE was 11.10±2.54 and 11.96±1.21 MJ for lean and obese subjects, respectively. Reported TEI, using either database, did not differ between groups. For lean women, TEI calculated by NDS was 7.66±1.73 MJ and by N3 was 8.44±1.59 MJ. Corresponding TEI for obese women were 7.46±2.17 MJ from NDS and 7.34±2.27 MJ from N3. Lean women under-reported by 23% (N3) and 30% (NDS), and obese women under-reported by 39% (N3) and 38% (NDS). Regardless of database, lean women reported higher carbohydrate intakes, and obese women reported higher total fat and individual fatty acid intakes. Higher energy intakes from mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids were estimated by NDS than by N3 in both groups of women (P≤0.05).

Conclusions: Both physically active lean and sedentary obese women under-reported TEI regardless of database, although the magnitude of under-reporting may be influenced by the database for the lean women.

Sponsorship: USDA Hatch Project award (ARZT-136528-H-23-111) to LB Houtkooper and WH Howell.

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2001) 55, 940–950

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the young women who enthusiastically participated in this study. We thank Tausha Roberts and Tara Newton for their careful entry of diet records into the computer databases.

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Author notes

  1. JL Weber and LB Houtkooper: Guarantors: JL Weber and LB Houtkooper.

  2. JL Weber, PM Reid, KA Greaves, JP DeLany, VA Stanford, SB Going, WH Howell and LB Houtkooper: Contributors: JLW was involved in diet record keeping training, calculation of energy expenditure, statistical analyses and writing the paper. PMR and KAG were involved in the day to day collection of data, and were responsible for overall data management including calculations and statistical analyses, and writing the paper. KAG was also involved in designing the study. JPD was responsible for isotope analyses and provided advice on calculations and the manuscript. VAS was involved in diet record keeping training and manuscript preparation and was responsible for overseeing diet composition analysis. SBG was responsible for overseeing body composition analyses and provided advice on the manuscript. WHH and LBH were the co-principal investigators responsible for designing the study and overseeing all aspects of the work and participated in preparation of the manuscript.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics/CARE, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA

    JL Weber

  2. Department of Nutritional Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA

    PM Reid, VA Stanford, SB Going, WH Howell & LB Houtkooper

  3. Protein Technologies International, St. Louis, Missouri, USA

    KA Greaves

  4. Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

    JP DeLany

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Correspondence to JL Weber.

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Weber, J., Reid, P., Greaves, K. et al. Validity of self-reported energy intake in lean and obese young women, using two nutrient databases, compared with total energy expenditure assessed by doubly labeled water. Eur J Clin Nutr 55, 940–950 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601249

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