L. Lafay et al., Does energy intake underreporting involve all kinds of food or only specific food items? Results from the Fleurbaix Laventie Ville Sante (FLVS) study, INT J OBES, 24(11), 2000, pp. 1500-1506
OBJECTIVE: To determine if energy intake underreporting concerns all major
food groups or if it occurs for specific food groups only.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional study on dietary habits and food consumption.
SUBJECTS: Five-hundred and four women and 529 men, aged between 25 and 55 y
participating in the Fleurbaix Laventie Ville Sante study.
MEASUREMENTS: A nutritional survey was conducted between March and June 199
3 using a 3-day food record. Reported weight and height were used to estima
te body mass index and basal metabolic rate. Underreporters were defined as
subjects whose ratio of mean energy intake to basal metabolic rate was low
er than 1.05. Food consumption was compared between underreporters and non-
underreporters.
RESULTS: Energy percentage of fat and carbohydrate were lower in underrepor
ters than in non-underreporters in contrast to the energy percentage of pro
tein. This was due to the fact that food items rich in fat and/or carbohydr
ates (such as butter, French fries, sugars and confectionery, cakes and pas
tries) were reported to be less frequently eaten and/or in smaller quantiti
es in underreporters compared to non-underreporters.
CONCLUSION: Although this study presents some limitations, like the use of
reported weight and a standard value for physical activity, it shows that r
eported foods differed, quantitatively and qualitatively, between severe un
derreporters and non-underreporters. Underreporting of food intake does not
result from a systematical underestimation of portion sizes for all food i
tems, but seems to concern specific food items which are generally consider
ed 'bad for health'.