title: The development and testing of a food portion photograph book for use in an African population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE: To develop and test a book of photographs of commonly eaten foods to be used as a visual aid in the description of portion sizes in a large cross-sectional study on the health profile of Africans in transition (THUSA - Transition, Health and Urbanization in South Africa). SETTING: Clinics in the North West Province of South Africa. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and sixty-nine adult African volunteers DESIGN: Data on commonly eaten foods, preparation methods, recipes and portion sizes were collected in a pilot study. Colour photographs, taken of foods prepared by the researchers and measured into three or four portion sizes, were enlarged and put together in a book. The food portion photograph book (FPPB) was tested by presenting subjects with a portion of real food and asking them to estimate the portion size by matching it with one of the portion photographs. MAIN RESULTS: Of 2959 portions tested, 68% were accurately estimated (estimated weight within 10% of actual weight). Clearly defined solid foods were better estimated than foods that had an amorphous appearance. Accuracy of estimation was not affected by gender, age or education. CONCLUSION: The FPPB was accepted as a useful and convenient visual aid to estimate portion sizes in the cross-sectional dietary intake study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Potchefstroom University, Potchefstroom, RSA; Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Medical University of South Africa, RSA.
authors.forename: C. S.
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Venter
authors.forename: U. E.
authors.initials: UE
authors.lastname: MacIntyre
authors.forename: H. H.
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Vorster