scholarly journals Development of an online database of typical food portion sizes in Irish population groups

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Lyons ◽  
Janette Walton ◽  
Albert Flynn

AbstractThe Irish Food Portion Sizes Database (available at www.iuna.net) describes typical portion weights for an extensive range of foods and beverages for Irish children, adolescents and adults. The present paper describes the methodologies used to develop the database and some key characteristics of the portion weight data contained therein. The data are derived from three large, cross-sectional food consumption surveys carried out in Ireland over the last decade: the National Children's Food Survey (2003–2004), National Teens' Food Survey (2005–2006) and National Adult Nutrition Survey (2008–2010). Median, 25th and 75th percentile portion weights are described for a total of 545 items across the three survey groups, split by age group or sex as appropriate. The typical (median) portion weights reported for adolescents and adults are similar for many foods, while those reported for children are notably smaller. Adolescent and adult males generally consume larger portions than their female counterparts, though similar portion weights may be consumed where foods are packaged in unit amounts (for example, pots of yoghurt). The inclusion of energy under-reporters makes little difference to the estimation of typical portion weights in adults. The data have wide-ranging applications in dietary assessment and food labelling, and will serve as a useful reference against which to compare future portion size data from the Irish population. The present paper provides a useful context for researchers and others wishing to use the Irish Food Portion Sizes Database, and may guide researchers in other countries in establishing similar databases of their own.

Nutrients ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Gibney ◽  
Aifric O’Sullivan ◽  
Albert Flynn ◽  
Janette Walton ◽  
Hannelore Daniel ◽  
...  

The present study set out to explore the option of developing food portion size for nutritional labelling purposes using two European Union (EU) dietary surveys. The surveys were selected as they differed in (a) methodologies (food diary versus food frequency questionnaire), (b) populations (Irish National Adult Nutrition Survey (NANS) versus a seven-country survey based on the pan EU study Food4Me), (c) food quantification (multiple options versus solely photographic album) and (d) duration (4 consecutive days versus recent month). Using data from these studies, portion size was determined for 15 test foods, where portion size was defined as the median intake of a target food when consumed. The median values of the portion sizes derived from both the NANS and Food4Me surveys were correlated (r = 0.823; p < 0.00) and the mean of the two survey data sets were compared to US values from the Recognized as Customarily Consumed (RACC) database. There was very strong agreement across all food categories between the averaged EU and the US portion size (r = 0.947; p < 0.00). It is concluded that notwithstanding the variety of approaches used for dietary survey data in the EU, the present data supports using a standardized approach to food portion size quantification for food labelling in the EU.


2008 ◽  
Vol 99 (6) ◽  
pp. 1344-1353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy L. Wrieden ◽  
Patricia J. Longbottom ◽  
Ashley J. Adamson ◽  
Simon A. Ogston ◽  
Anne Payne ◽  
...  

It is often the case in dietary assessment that it is not practicable to weigh individual intakes of foods eaten. The aim of the work described was to estimate typical food portion weights for children of different ages. Using the data available from the British National Diet and Nutrition Surveys of children aged 1½–4½ years (1992–1993) and young people aged 4–18 years (1997), descriptive statistics were obtained, and predicted weights were calculated by linear, quadratic and exponential regression for each age group. Following comparison of energy and nutrient intakes calculated from actual (from an earlier weighed intake study) and estimated portion weights, the final list of typical portion sizes was based on median portion weights for the 1–3- and 4–6-year age groups, and age-adjusted means using linear regression for the 7–10-, 11–14- and 15–18-year age groups. The number of foods recorded by fifty or more children was 133 for each of the younger age groups (1–3 and 4–6 years) and seventy-five for each of the older age groups. The food portion weights covered all food groups. All portion sizes increased with age with the exception of milk in tea or coffee. The present study draws on a unique source of weighed data on food portions of a large sample of children that is unlikely to be repeated and therefore provides the best possible estimates of children's food portion sizes in the UK.


2014 ◽  
Vol 112 (5) ◽  
pp. 841-851 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salwa A. Albar ◽  
Nisreen A. Alwan ◽  
Charlotte E. L. Evans ◽  
Janet E. Cade

The prevalence of obesity has increased simultaneously with the increase in the consumption of large food portion sizes (FPS). Studies investigating this association among adolescents are limited; fewer have addressed energy-dense foods as a potential risk factor. In the present study, the association between the portion size of the most energy-dense foods and BMI was investigated. A representative sample of 636 British adolescents (11–18 years) was used from the 2008–2011 UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey. FPS were estimated for the most energy-dense foods (those containing above 10·5 kJ/g (2·5 kcal/g)). Regression models with BMI as the outcome variable were adjusted for age, sex and misreporting energy intake (EI). A positive association was observed between total EI and BMI. For each 418 kJ (100 kcal) increase in EI, BMI increased by 0·19 kg/m2(95 % CI 0·10, 0·28;P< 0·001) for the whole sample. This association remained significant after stratifying the sample by misreporting. The portion sizes of a limited number of high-energy-dense foods (high-fibre breakfast cereals, cream and high-energy soft drinks (carbonated)) were found to be positively associated with a higher BMI among all adolescents after adjusting for misreporting. When eliminating the effect of under-reporting, larger portion sizes of a number of high-energy-dense foods (biscuits, cheese, cream and cakes) were found to be positively associated with BMI among normal reporters. The portion sizes of only high-fibre breakfast cereals and high-energy soft drinks (carbonated) were found to be positively associated with BMI among under-reporters. These findings emphasise the importance of considering under-reporting when analysing adolescents' dietary intake data. Also, there is a need to address adolescents' awareness of portion sizes of energy-dense foods to improve their food choice and future health outcomes.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 175
Author(s):  
Dang Khanh Ngan Ho ◽  
Wan-Chun Chiu ◽  
Yu-Chieh Lee ◽  
Hsiu-Yueh Su ◽  
Chun-Chao Chang ◽  
...  

The use of image-based dietary assessments (IBDAs) has rapidly increased; however, there is no formalized training program to enhance the digital viewing skills of dieticians. An IBDA was integrated into a nutritional practicum course in the School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, Taipei Medical University Taiwan. An online IBDA platform was created as an off-campus remedial teaching tool to reinforce the conceptualization of food portion sizes. Dietetic students’ receptiveness and response to the IBDA, and their performance in food identification and quantification, were compared between the IBDA and real food visual estimations (RFVEs). No differences were found between the IBDA and RFVE in terms of food identification (67% vs. 71%) or quantification (±10% of estimated calories: 23% vs. 24%). A Spearman correlation analysis showed a moderate to high correlation for calorie estimates between the IBDA and RFVE (r ≥ 0.33~0.75, all p < 0.0001). Repeated IBDA training significantly improved students’ image-viewing skills [food identification: first semester: 67%; pretest: 77%; second semester: 84%) and quantification [±10%: first semester: 23%; pretest: 28%; second semester: 32%; and ±20%: first semester: 38%; pretest: 48%; second semester: 59%] and reduced absolute estimated errors from 27% (first semester) to 16% (second semester). Training also greatly improved the identification of omitted foods (e.g., condiments, sugar, cooking oil, and batter coatings) and the accuracy of food portion size estimates. The integration of an IBDA into dietetic courses has the potential to help students develop knowledge and skills related to “e-dietetics”.


Author(s):  
Michael J. Gibney ◽  
Aifric O'Sullivan ◽  
Albert Flynn ◽  
Janette Walton ◽  
Hannelore Daniel ◽  
...  

The present study set out to explore the option of developing food portion size for nutritional labelling purposes using two European Union (EU) dietary surveys. The surveys were selected as they differed in (a) methodologies (food diary v food frequency questionnaire), (b) populations (Irish National Adult Nutrition Survey: NANS) versus a seven-country based on the pan EU study Food4Me), (c) food quantification (multiple options v, solely photographic album) and (d) duration (4 consecutive days v recent month). Using data from these studies, portion size was determined for 15 test foods, where portion size was defined as the median intake of a target food when consumed. The median values of the portion sizes derived from both the NANS and Food4Me surveys were correlated (r = 0.823; P&lt;0.00) and the mean of the two survey data sets were compared to US values from the Recognized as Customarily Consumed (RACC) database. There was very strong agreement across all food categories between the averaged EU and the US portion size (r = 0.947; P&lt;0.00). It is concluded that notwithstanding the variety of approaches used for dietary survey data in the EU, the present data supports using a standardized approach to food portion size quantification for food labelling in the EU.


2010 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 146-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoff D. C. Ball ◽  
Alinda Friedman

Purpose: Portion size measurement aids (PSMAs) are used extensively by dietitians. In this cross-sectional, descriptive study, we explored the degree of consistency and concordance between measured and putative volumes of selected household and sport-related PSMAs that are commonly used for nutrition education and dietary assessment. Methods: An online search of portion size resources yielded several governmental and academic descriptions of household PMSAs (e.g., a compact disc, a nine-volt battery) and sportrelated PMSAs (e.g., a golf ball) and their purported dimensions. The spherical items were purchased locally and measured using electronic digital calipers; measurements were then converted to volumes, in millilitres. Results: Overall, we observed a high degree of heterogeneity in how different educational resources related sport-related PSMAs to portion sizes of food. The mean percentage of error between the measured and putative volumes of PSMAs varied considerably. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the inaccurate use of PSMAs can lead to systematic bias in nutrition education and misreporting of dietary intake during dietary assessment. Dietitians should exercise caution when using PSMAs because these may not reflect the true portion size they are meant to represent.


Nutrients ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1929 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Lyons ◽  
Janette Walton ◽  
Albert Flynn

Reduction in portion size, particularly for energy-dense foods, is increasingly addressed in healthy eating guidelines in a bid to tackle the obesity epidemic. The effect of portion size on other aspects of dietary quality, such as nutrient intakes, is less studied. The aim of the current work was to investigate associations between food portion sizes and key indicators of dietary quality, namely energy-adjusted intakes of saturated fat, dietary fibre, sodium, calcium, iron, folate and vitamin D, and dietary energy density (DED), in Irish adults on the days the foods were consumed. Data from the Irish National Adult Nutrition Survey (2008–2010) (n = 1274, 18–64 years, 4-day semi-weighed record) were used for the analysis. DED was lower on the days larger portions of boiled potatoes, fruit, vegetables and baked beans were consumed, and higher on the days larger portions of white bread, ready-to-eat breakfast cereals (RTEBCs), frying meats, cheese, butter, biscuits, chocolate and sugar-sweetened beverages were consumed. Micronutrient intakes were higher on the days larger portions of brown bread, RTEBCs, vegetables and low-fat spreads were consumed, and lower on the days larger portions of white bread, butter, biscuits, chocolate, sugar-sweetened beverages and beer/cider were consumed, with the exception of folate. The study identifies foods for which larger portion sizes may be associated with positive dietary attributes, as well as the opposite. It provides an important evidence base from which more specific dietary guidance on food portion sizes might be developed for Irish adults.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meng Chun Lam ◽  
Nur Afyfah Suwadi ◽  
Adibah Huda Mohd Zainul Arifien ◽  
Bee Koon Poh ◽  
Nik Shanita Safii ◽  
...  

Abstract Food portion size estimation is a critical yet challenging task in dietary assessment. Augmented reality technology enables the presentation of food dimensions and volume in a virtual three-dimensional object. It has the potential to improve perception and estimation of portion sizes. This study aims to develop and evaluate a novel mobile augmented reality application, namely Virtual Atlas of Portion Sizes (VAPS), as a portion size estimation aid. The development methodology of VAPS involves food photography, reconstruction of 3D models using photogrammetry method and presenting them in an AR environment. The 3D food models displayed in either semi-transparent or vivid mode for users to perform food portion estimation. Users can then resize and rotate the 3D models to fit the virtual model with the actual food. A total of thirty-six participants were involved in the evaluation and were divided into a health science and a non-health science background group. VAPS received good usability level with 76 SUS score. In terms of task completion time, unsurprisingly, the health science group performed faster. However, both groups have equivalent accuracy on the food portion estimation task using VAPS: 22.5% for non-health science group and 26.6% for health science group. The health science group liked and have better accuracy in vivid 3D food models (37.5%). Meanwhile, the non-health science group preferred semi-transparent 3D food models, but the accuracy is not significantly different between semi-transparent (25%) and vivid 3D food model (20%). Results demonstrate the potential of VAPS to aid in portion size estimation for dietary assessment, and participants’ feedback will be incorporated in the future for improvement of the app.


Nutrients ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1865 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emiko Okada ◽  
Aki Saito ◽  
Hidemi Takimoto

While previous studies have reported the association between food portion size and health outcomes, the association between food seasonings and blood pressure (BP) has not been clarified. This study aimed to investigate the association between the portion sizes of traditional Japanese seasonings and BP. Data on 25,738 Japanese participants (10,154 men and 15,584 women) aged ≥20 years registered in the 2012–2016 National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHNS) were used for this cross-sectional study. The portion sizes of soy sauce or miso were calculated from the reported weight of soy sauce or miso, and the number of dishes. Regression models were used to estimate BP and prevalence of hypertension, and their 95% confidence intervals according to the portion size of soy sauce or miso. We did not observe an association between the portion sizes of soy sauce or miso and BP. A larger portion size of soy sauce or miso was associated with a higher prevalence of hypertension in the crude model among women, but no significant associations were observed in the multivariate model in both sexes. Our findings suggest that the portion sizes of soy sauce or miso are not associated with BP among Japanese adults.


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