COMPARISON OF ENERGY-INTAKE BY SEMIQUANTITATIVE FOOD-FREQUENCY QUESTIONNAIRE WITH TOTAL-ENERGY EXPENDITURE BY THE DOUBLY LABELED WATER METHOD IN YOUNG-CHILDREN

We assessed the validity of a semiquantitative food-frequency question naire to estimate energy intake in young children by comparison with t otal energy expenditure (TEE). TEE was measured in 45 children (22 mal es and 23 females; 4.2-6.9 y of age) by the doubly labeled water metho d and body composition was estimated from bioelectrical resistance (20 .2 +/- 4.0 kg body weight, 4.6 +/- 2.1 kg fat mass, and 15.6 +/- 3.1 k g fat-free mass). The sample included 36 white children and 9 Mohawk N ative American children. The children's mothers completed one Willett food-frequency questionnaire to reflect the child's usual dietary inta ke over the last year. Total energy intake by food-frequency questionn aire (9.12 +/- 2.28 MJ/d) was significantly higher than TEE (5.74 +/- 1.13 MJ/d; P < 0.001). Misreporting of intake by food-frequency questi onnaire ranged from 9.57 MJ/d overestimation to 1.58 MJ/d underestimat ion and was not significantly influenced by sex or body composition of the children. We conclude that use of the food-frequency questionnair e significantly overestimates energy intake in children.