COMPARISON OF DIETARY ASSESSMENT METHODS IN NUTRITIONAL EPIDEMIOLOGY - WEIGHED RECORDS V 24-H RECALLS, FOOD-FREQUENCY QUESTIONNAIRES AND ESTIMATED-DIET RECORDS

Women (rr 160) aged 50 to 65 years were asked to weigh their food for 4 d on four occasions over the period of 1 year, using the PETRA (Port able Electronic Tape Recorded Automatic) scales. Throughout the year, they were asked to complete seven other dietary assessment methods: a simple 24 h recall, a structured 24 h recall with portion size assessm ents using photographs, two food-frequency questionnaires, a 7 d estim ated record or open-ended food diary, a structured food-frequency (men u) record, and a structured food-frequency (menu) record with portion sizes assessed using photographs. Comparisons between the average of t he 16 d weighed records and the first presentation of each method indi cated that food-frequency questionnaires were not appreciably better a t placing individuals in the distribution of habitual diet than 24 h r ecalls, due partly to inaccuracies in the estimation of frequency of f ood consumption. With a 7 d estimated record or open-ended food diary, however, individual values of nutrients were most closely associated with those obtained from 16 d weighed records, and there were no signi ficant differences in average food or nutrient intakes.