Author Identifier
Clare Whitton: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1991-2432
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
British Journal of Nutrition
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
Publication Unique Identifier
10.1017/S000711452500042X
Funders
Australian Research Council / National Institutes of Health – National Cancer Institute (1U01CA130784-01) / National Institutes of Health – National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (1R01-DK073711-01A1, 2R56DK073711-04) / Food Standards Agency, Scotland / Australian Government Research Training Program / Health and Medical Research Council
Grant Number
NHMRC Number : APP2009340
Abstract
Measurement error undermines the accuracy of dietary intake data. The 24-hour dietary recall (24HR) is the standard data collection method in nutrition surveillance. Several neurocognitive processes underpin the act of recall, and individuals differ in their performance of these processes. This study aimed to investigate whether variation in neurocognitive processes, measured using four cognitive tasks, was associated with variation in measurement error of 24HRs. Participants (n 139) completed the Trail Making Test, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, the Visual Digit Span, and the Vividness of Visual Imagery questionnaire. During a controlled feeding study, participants completed three technology-assisted 24HR; the Automated Self-Administered Dietary Assessment Tool (ASA24), Intake24, and an Interviewer-Administered Image-Assisted 24HR (IA-24HR) one week apart. Percentage error between reported and true energy intakes was calculated. Using linear regression, the association between cognitive task scores and absolute percentage error in estimated energy intake was assessed. Longer time spent completing the Trail Making Test, an indicator of visual attention and executive functioning, was associated with greater error in energy intake estimation using ASA24 (B 0.13, 95% CI 0.04, 0.21) and Intake24 (B 0.10, 95% CI 0.02, 0.19). Regression models explained 13.6% (ASA24) and 15.8% (Intake24) of the variance in energy estimation error. No cognitive task scores were associated with error using IA-24HR. This study demonstrates that variation between individuals in neurocognitive processes explains some of the variation in 24HR error. Further investigation into the role of neurocognitive processes in 24HR and their role in the reliability of dietary intake data is warranted.
DOI
10.1017/S000711452500042X
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Whitton, C., Mullan, B. A., Dhaliwal, S. S., Norman, R., Boushey, C. J., Collins, C. E., ... & Kerr, D. A. (2025). The association of cognitive task scores with energy intake measurement error from technology-assisted 24-h recalls. British Journal of Nutrition. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1017/S000711452500042X