WHO UNDERREPORTS DIETARY-INTAKE IN A DIETARY RECALL - EVIDENCE FROM THE 2ND NATIONAL-HEALTH AND NUTRITION EXAMINATION SURVEY

The present study sought to identify the presence and degree of appare nt underreporting of dietary intake in 11,663 participants in the Seco nd National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES II). Self- reported dietary intake was compared with estimated basal metabolic ra te. Underreporting was based on cutoff limits that identified plausibl e levels bf energy expenditure for adult individuals. Results indicate d that up to 31% of adults in this sample may have underreported dieta ry intake. Those individuals at greatest risk of underreporting were l ess well educated and heavier. The Sex X Race interaction indicated th at for both ethnic categories, women were more likely to underreport t han men, but the difference between men and women was greater among Ca ucasian participants. It is concluded that such factors as reduced ene rgy needs, deliberate falsification, and measurement error inherent in dietary assessment contribute to apparent underreporting, and this oc curs in a large percentage of dietary data.