title: Fat-gram counting and food-record rating are equally effective for evaluating food records in reduced-fat diets.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare rates of adherence to low-fat diets using food-record rating and fat-gram counting, to evaluate dietary adherence using the fat-gram counting method, and to assess correlations between food-record rating and fat-gram counting.
  
  
  METHODS
  A diet monitoring and observation study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of food-record rating and fat-gram counting to evaluate dietary adherence. Subjects were randomly assigned to the food-record rating group of the fat-gram counting group. Each participant was asked to complete four 3-day food records. Food records were evaluated by food-record rating for one group and by fat-gram counting for the other. Each record was then scored using the alternate system. For a subset, manually calculated fat-gram values were compared for accuracy with values from the Nutrient Data Systems database.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mantel-Haenszel chi 2, regression, and K analyses were used to evaluate adherence rates and within-subject agreement between fat-gram counting and food-record rating.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-eight participants were recruited from a lipid-lowering research trial conducted in Houston, Tex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Strong correlations were found between fat-gram values calculated manually and those calculated using the Nutrient Data Systems. No significant differences in adherence rates were found between the food-record rating and fat-gram counting groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fat-gram counting is at least as effective as food-record rating in monitoring dietary fat content. Dietitians can use it as an alternative dietary fat-monitoring procedure for clinical practice and research.
authors.affiliation: Harris County Health Department, Houston, Tex, USA.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Kimball
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mendoza-Martinez
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Mateski
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Insull
mesh_terms: D015930:Diet Records; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011786:Quality Control
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats