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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #393081
Research Project: Energy Met.: Novel Approaches to Facilitating Successful Energy Regulation in Aging--Obesity & Met.: Role of Adipocyte Metabolism in the Development of Obesity and Associated Metabolic Complications

Location: Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging

Title: Perspective: Opportunities and challenges of technology tools in dietary and activity assessment: Bridging stakeholder viewpoints

Author
item DAS, SAI KRUPA - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item MIKI, AKARI - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item BLANCHARD, CAROLINE - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item SAZANOV, EDWARD - University Of Alabama
item GILHOOLY, CHERYL - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item DEY, SUJIT - University Of California, San Diego
item WOLK, COLTON - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item KHOO, CHOR SAN - The Institute For The Advancement Of Food And Nutrition Sciences (IAFNS)
item HILL, JAMES - University Of Alabama
item SHOOK, ROBIN - Children'S Mercy Hospital

Submitted to: Advances in Nutrition
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/24/2021
Publication Date: 9/20/2021
Citation: Das, S., Miki, A., Blanchard, C.M., Sazanov, E.S., Gilhooly, C., Dey, S., Wolk, C.B., Khoo, C.H., Hill, J.O., Shook, R. 2021. Perspective: Opportunities and challenges of technology tools in dietary and activity assessment: Bridging stakeholder viewpoints. Advances in Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmab103.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmab103

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The science and tools of measuring energy intake and output in humans have rapidly advanced in the last decade. Engineered devices such as wearables and sensors, software applications, and Web-based tools are now ubiquitous in both research and consumer environments. The assessment of energy expenditure in particular has progressed from reliance on self-report instruments to advanced technologies requiring collaboration across multiple disciplines, from optics to accelerometry. In contrast, assessing energy intake still heavily relies on self-report mechanisms. Although these tools have improved, moving from paper-based to online reporting, considerable room for refinement remains in existing tools, and great opportunities exist for novel, transformational tools, including those using spectroscopy and chemo-sensing. This report reviews the state of the science, and the opportunities and challenges in existing and emerging technologies, from the perspectives of 3 key stakeholders: researchers, users, and developers. Each stakeholder approaches these tools with unique requirements: researchers are concerned with validity, accuracy, data detail and abundance, and ethical use; users with ease of use and privacy; and developers with high adherence and utilization, intellectual property, licensing rights, and monetization. Cross-cutting concerns include frequent updating and integration of the food and nutrient databases on which assessments rely, improving accessibility and reducing disparities in use, and maintaining reliable technical assistance. These contextual challenges are discussed in terms of opportunities and further steps in the direction of personalized health.