title: Estimates of food quantity and calories: errors in self-report among obese patients.
abstract: We report three studies that examine the accuracy and usefulness of food records among dieting obese patients. In study 1 errors in quantity and calorie estimates for 10 common foods averaged 63.9% (quantity) and 53.4% (calories). The results of study 2 indicate that only 53% of entries in daily food records were specified enough to permit objective estimates of the calories consumed. In study 3, blind raters could not predict weight loss based on subjects' self-recorded behavior changes. Collectively, these results question the utility of food records for estimating energy intake or predicting weight loss.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000592:standards*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D011996:Records / Q000592:standards