Traditional methods v. new technologies - dilemmas for dietary assessment in large-scale nutrition surveys and studies: a report following an international panel discussion at the 9th International Conference on Diet and Activity Methods (ICDAM9), Brisbane, 3 September 2015

B Amoutzopoulos; T Steer; C Roberts; J E Cade; C J Boushey; C E Collins; E Trolle; E J de Boer; N Ziauddeen; C van Rossum; E Buurma; D Coyle; P Page

doi:10.1017/jns.2018.4

Traditional methods v. new technologies - dilemmas for dietary assessment in large-scale nutrition surveys and studies: a report following an international panel discussion at the 9th International Conference on Diet and Activity Methods (ICDAM9), Brisbane, 3 September 2015

J Nutr Sci. 2018 Apr 2:7:e11. doi: 10.1017/jns.2018.4. eCollection 2018.

Authors

B Amoutzopoulos¹, T Steer¹, C Roberts², J E Cade³, C J Boushey⁴, C E Collins⁵, E Trolle⁶, E J de Boer⁷, N Ziauddeen¹, C van Rossum⁷, E Buurma⁷, D Coyle⁵, P Page¹

Affiliations

¹ MRC Elsie Widdowson Laboratory, Cambridge, UK.
² NatCen Social Research, London, UK.
³ The Nutritional Epidemiology Group, The University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
⁴ Cancer Epidemiology Programme, The University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
⁵ School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine and Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
⁶ Division of Risk Assessment and Nutrition, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark (DTU Food), Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
⁷ Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands.

Abstract

The aim of the present paper is to summarise current and future applications of dietary assessment technologies in nutrition surveys in developed countries. It includes the discussion of key points and highlights of subsequent developments from a panel discussion to address strengths and weaknesses of traditional dietary assessment methods (food records, FFQ, 24 h recalls, diet history with interviewer-assisted data collection) v. new technology-based dietary assessment methods (web-based and mobile device applications). The panel discussion 'Traditional methods v. new technologies: dilemmas for dietary assessment in population surveys', was held at the 9th International Conference on Diet and Activity Methods (ICDAM9), Brisbane, September 2015. Despite respondent and researcher burden, traditional methods have been most commonly used in nutrition surveys. However, dietary assessment technologies offer potential advantages including faster data processing and better data quality. This is a fast-moving field and there is evidence of increasing demand for the use of new technologies amongst the general public and researchers. There is a need for research and investment to support efforts being made to facilitate the inclusion of new technologies for rapid, accurate and representative data.

Keywords: AES, Australian Eating Survey; AHS, Australian Health Survey; AMPM, Automated Multiple-Pass Method; ASA24, Automated Self-Administered 24-hour Recall; DNFCS, Dutch National Food Consumption Survey; Dietary assessment technologies; ICDAM9, 9th International Conference on Diet and Activity Methods; MRC, Medical Research Council; Mobile applications; NDNS, National Diet and Nutrition Survey; NHANES, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; Nutrition surveys; RP, Rolling Programme; Web-based tools; WebDASC, Web-based Dietary Assessment Software for Children; mFR, mobile food record.