title: Electronic dietary recording system improves nutrition knowledge, eating attitudes and habitual physical activity: a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study's objective was to investigate whether use of an electronic dietary recording system improves nutrition knowledge, eating attitudes and habitual physical activity levels compared to use of a food diary and no self-monitoring.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty adults aged 20-60 with a body mass index ≥25 were recruited and randomly assigned to one of three groups: a group using an electronic system (EG), a group using a food diary (FD) and a control group using nothing (CG) to record food intake. All participants took part in three 60-90 nutrition seminars and completed three questionnaires on general nutrition knowledge, habitual physical activity levels and eating attitudes at the beginning and end of the 12-week study. The pre- and post-test scores for each questionnaire were analysed using a paired sample t-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant improvements in the domain of 'dietary recommendations' were found in the EG (p=0.009) and FD groups (p=0.046). Great improvements were found in 'sources of nutrients', 'choosing everyday foods' and 'diet-disease relationships' in EG and FD groups. EG group showed greater improvement in the work index and sport index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An electronic dietary recording system may improve eating and exercise behaviour in a self-monitoring process.
authors: Department of Health and Physical Education, The Hong Kong Institute of Education, 10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong. Electronic address: chungmy@ied.edu.hk.
authors: Louisa Ming Yan
authors: LM
authors: Chung
authors: Department of Nursing and Health Sciences, Tung Wah College, Hong Kong. Electronic address: queenielaw@twc.edu.hk.
authors: Queenie Pui Sze
authors: QP
authors: Law
authors: Institute of Human Performance, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. Electronic address: smfong@hku.hk.
authors: Shirley Siu Ming
authors: SS
authors: Fong
authors: Department of Health and Physical Education, The Hong Kong Institute of Education, 10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong. Electronic address: joannechung@ied.edu.hk.
authors: Joanne Wai Yee
authors: JW
authors: Chung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004032:Diet / Q000523:psychology*; D015930:Diet Records; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology*; D004581:Electronics; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education*; D064167:Recommended Dietary Allowances; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Behavioural change; Eating attitude; Electronic dietary recording system; Nutrition knowledge; Physical activity level; Self-monitoring