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ARS Home » Plains Area » Grand Forks, North Dakota » Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center » Healthy Body Weight Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #302603
Title: A mobile phone food record app to digitally capture dietary intake for adolescents in a free-living environment: Usability study

Author
item Casperson, Shanon
item SIELING, JARED - Mei Research, Ltd
item MOON, JON - Mei Research, Ltd
item JOHNSON, LUANN - University Of North Dakota
item Roemmich, James
item Whigham Grendell, Leah

Submitted to: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/9/2015
Publication Date: 4/1/2015
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/61293
Citation: Casperson, S.L., Sieling, J., Moon, J., Johnson, L.K., Roemmich, J.N., Whigham Grendell, L.D. 2015. A mobile phone food record app to digitally capture dietary intake for adolescents in a free-living environment: Usability study. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 3(1):e30.

Interpretive Summary: We tested the usage of an application (FRapp) to record dietary intake in adolescents. We found that mobile devices equipped with the FRapp are readily used by adolescents in a free-living environment. On average adolescents recorded dietary intake for 2 weekdays and 1 weekend day, the standard recording time typically asked for by dietitians. Of the meals recorded, 36, 33, 35, and 39 were breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, respectively. Eighty one meals were recorded at home, 21 at school, and 7 at a restaurant/fast-food establishment. To fully interpret dietary intake before and after meal images need to be captured as well as text descriptors. We found that adolescents recorded text descriptions of their meals significantly more times than not (72% vs. 28%, respectively), however, they had a difficult time remembering to capture the after meal image. In conclusion, mobile device equipped with a FRapp is readily used by adolescents. However, to maximize quality and completeness the FRapp should provide prompts and reminders and also be customizable to each individual and to different situations.

Technical Abstract: Background: Mobile technologies are emerging as a valuable tool to collect and assess dietary intake. Adolescents readily accept and adopt new technologies; hence, a food record application (FRapp) may be used as a tool to promote a better understanding of adolescent’s dietary intake and eating patterns. Objective: We sought to determine the practicality and feasibility of a FRapp among adolescents in a freely living environment. Methods: Eighteen community-dwelling adolescents (11 - 14 y) received detailed instructions to record their dietary intake for 3 - 7 days using a FRapp. Participants were instructed to capture before and after images of all foods and beverages consumed, and include a fiducial marker in the image. Participants entered text descriptions, including amount and type, of all foods and beverages consumed. Results: Dietary intake was recorded on average for 3.2 ± 1.3 days (68% weekdays and 32% weekend days) with an average of 2.2 ± 1.1 eating events per day per participant. A total of 143 eating events were recorded, of which 109 (76%) had at least one associated image and 34 (24%) were recorded with text only. Of the 109 eating events with images, 66 (61%) included all foods, beverages and the fiducial marker and 44 (40%) included both a pre- and post-meal image. Text was included with 75 (70%) of the captured images. Of the meals recorded, 36, 33, 35, and 39 were breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, respectively. Conclusions: These data suggest that mobile devices equipped with an application to record dietary intake records can be used by adolescents in a free-living environment. To improve data collection, the mobile food record application should provide reminders and prompts to cue subjects to capture images before and after each eating event, include the fiducial marker in the image, provide complete and accurate text information, and ensure all eating events are recorded. To maximize the quality and completeness of dietary intake records, the mobile food record application should be customizable to individuals and to different situations. Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01803997, http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01803997.