(OR09-02-23) Pilot Evaluation of Whether an Interviewer Administered Dietary Recall Method Augmented With a Photo-Based Mobile Food Record Improves Reporting of Food Intake

Objectives: Dietary capture is an important yet challenging metric in nutrition research. Underreporting remains common, especially in high-risk populations such as patients with obesity. We conducted a pilot study to evaluate if augmenting interviewer administered dietary recalls by a mobile food record results in less energy intake underreporting than standard interviewer administered dietary recalls.

Methods: Participants (n=10, with BMI >30, education level < bachelor’s degree, mean age=47 years) completed a randomized cross-over study and each underwent two sets of three 24-hour dietary recalls. The standard set was interviewer administered recalls. The augmented set had participants use a photo-based mobile food record the day prior to the recall and the acquired data was used to guide the recall. Paired t-tests and two sample t-tests (all two-sided) were used to compare dietary outcomes captured by the two sets of recalls. The primary outcome was energy intake, with additional analyses by household income and BMI.

Results: The augmented method (1619 kcal/day) resulted in an average energy intake of 274 (95% CI:-597, 50, p=0.09) kcal/day less than the standard method (1893 kcal/day). This difference did not differ significantly by BMI (p=0.73) or household income (p=0.82). Average total HEI score of augmented recalls (46) was not significantly different from that of standard recalls (46) (p=1.00). Individuals reported an average of 1.1 (95% CI: -2.3, 0.1) less food items during augmented recalls than during standard recalls (p=0.08). Number of eating occasions per day and number of minutes required to complete the recall did not differ significantly between methods (p >=0.35).

Conclusions: Using a photo-based mobile food record to augment interviewer administered dietary recalls did not lead to significant differences in energy intake, HEI score or number of food items reported when compared to the standard recall method. These findings reinforce the current “gold-standard” dietary capture method of a 24-hour dietary recall. Further research is needed to determine how technology can be best incorporated to reduce underreporting in dietary capture.

Funding Sources: UMN Institute for Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism Pilot and Feasibility Grant program.