Characteristics of under- and over-reporters of energy intake among 18-20-year-old males: the Gothenburg Osteoporosis and Obesity Determinants (GOOD) study

Objective: To identify and describe characteristics of the bias of reported energy intake of participants in the Gothenburg Osteoporosis and Obesity Determinants (GOOD) study. Design: A validated diet history with a detailed questionnaire and an interview was used. Body fat was analysed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The ratio of energy intake (EI) to BMR was used to define under-reporters (EI:BMR <1.30), acceptable reporters (EI:BMR >= 1.30 to <2.64) and over-reporters (EI:BMR >= 2.64). Setting: Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. Subjects: A total of 695 males (18-20 years). Results: Sixty-eight per cent were classed as acceptable reporters, 22% as over-reporters and 10% as under-reporters. The under-reporters had higher BMI and body fat percentage than acceptable reporters (P<0.001), while over-reporters had lower BMI and body fat percentage (P<0.001). Over-reporters had more frequent use of protein supplements than acceptable reporters and higher physical activity. Over-reporters had a more regular and under-reporters a less regular meal pattern compared with acceptable reporters. Conclusions: Important knowledge of dietary reporting bias in a previously sparsely studied population has been provided. Over-reporting of energy intake was more common than under-reporting in the present population of young men and characteristics of under- and over-reporters were identified. The GOOD study was initiated with the central aim to determine environmental and genetic factors involved in the regulation of bone and fat mass, and the nutrient data of the acceptable reporters can be used for further investigation of the health effects of energy and nutrient intake.