Background
Smartphone-based methods are innovative and promising tools to accurately quantify energy intake (EI). The PortionSizeTM app measures dietary intake using embedded templates and provides real-time feedback. PortionSize also sends food images to a server where they can be analyzed using the Remote Food Photography Method (RFPM). The RFPM accurately measures EI; however, it requires human raters to analyze food images; therefore, the RFPM does not provide dietary feedback in real-time.
Objective
To compare the validity of EI estimates from PortionSize and RFPM to weighed meals (WM).
Study Design, Setting, Participants
Fifteen adults used the PortionSize app during covertly-weighed simulated meals in a laboratory setting. Trained personnel also quantified EI from the images captured from the PortionSize using the RFPM.
Measurable Outcome/ Analysis
Demographics and body mass index (BMI). Dependent t-tests were performed to investigate whether EI measured with templates in PortionSize or using the RFPM differed to EI from WM.
Results
Mean (± SD) age and BMI of participants were 28 (± 12) years and 24.1 ± 6.6 kg/m2, respectively, and 73.3% were female. PortionSize estimated EI was 743 ± 328 kcal, EI RFPM-estimated intake was 660 ± 196 kcal, and weighed intake was 659 ± 191 kcal. The mean differences of EI estimation between PortionSize and WM (84 ± 288 kcal) and between RFPM and WM (1 ± 32 kcal) were not significant (P > .05). The mean difference in EI estimation (83 ±284 kcal) between PortionSize and RFPM was not significant (P > .05).
Conclusions
RFPM produced very close estimates of EI to WM but requires a human rater and is not easily scalable. These findings are important as PortionSize provides real-time feedback on dietary intake, which may assist with timely behavior change. Improvements to make PortionSize more scalable are ongoing. This work warrants future well-powered trials.
Funding
NIH; Pennington Biomedical (PBRC)/Louisiana Nutrition Obesity Research Center; Louisiana Clinical and Translational Science Center
SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Supplementary data related to this article can be found at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2022.04.059.
Appendix. SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
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Copyright
© 2022 Published by Elsevier Inc.
