Errors in food recording and calorie estimation: clinical and theoretical implications for obesity

In an attempt to replicate and extend previous research on the validity of food diaries, 43 obese females were quizzed on food recording and calorie estimation in a controlled analogue of self-monitoring. Sources of error were identified that included poor food descriptions, inaccurate quantity estimations, and a variety of computational errors in converting calories. These sources of subject error revealed areas for training in accurate food recording and calorie estimation. The clinical and theoretical importance of establishing the validity of food diaries through accuracy training is emphasized.