Healthy Eating Index-2015 Scores Among Adults Based on Observed vs Recalled Dietary Intake

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Dietary Assessment Methodology

Background:

• The Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015 is a validated tool for assessing diet quality.
• However, the impact of errors in self-reported dietary intake on HEI scores remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the concordance between HEI-2015 scores derived from observed dietary intake versus self-reported intake in adults.
• To understand potential discrepancies in HEI-2015 scoring due to dietary reporting errors.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from two feeding studies (FEAST I and II) involving observed true intake and subsequent 24-hour dietary recalls.
• Employed the Automated Self-Administered 24-hour Dietary Assessment Tool (ASA24) and interviewer-administered methods for recalls.
• Calculated HEI-2015 scores using the population ratio method and analyzed differences between observed and reported intake.

Main Results:

• Differences in total HEI-2015 scores between observed and reported intake varied by recall method and participant characteristics.
• For ASA24 independently, differences ranged from -1.3 to 5.8 points.
• In FEAST II, HEI-2015 scores from observed intake were significantly lower for participants with lower education levels and higher BMI.

Conclusions:

• HEI-2015 scores calculated from 24-hour dietary recalls are generally well-estimated.
• Dietary reporting methods and participant factors may influence the accuracy of HEI-2015 scores.