Evaluation of acceptability, functionality, and validity of a passive image-based dietary intake assessment method in adults and children of Ghanaian and Kenyan origin living in London, UK

Authors: JOBARTEH, MODOU - London School Of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine; MCCRORY, MEGAN - Boston University; LO, BENNY - Imperial College; TRIANTAFYLLIDIS, KONSTANTINOS - Imperial College; QIU, JIANING - Imperial College; GRIFFIN, JENNIFER - Imperial College; SAZONOV, EDWARD - University Of Alabama; SUN, MINGUI - University Of Pittsburgh; JIA, WENYAN - University Of Pittsburgh; BARANOWSKI, TOM - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC); ANDERSON, ALEX - University Of Georgia; MAITLAND, KATHRYN - Kemri Wellcome Trust Research Programme; FROST, GARY - Imperial College

Submitted to: Nutrients
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/19/2023
Publication Date: 9/20/2023
Citation: Jobarteh, M.L., McCrory, M.A., Lo, B., Triantafyllidis, K.K., Qiu, J., Griffin, J.P., Sazonov, E., Sun, M., Jia, W., Baranowski, T., Anderson, A.K., Maitland, K., Frost, G. 2023. Evaluation of acceptability, functionality, and validity of a passive image-based dietary intake assessment method in adults and children of Ghanaian and Kenyan origin living in London, UK. Nutrients. 15(18). Article 4075. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15184075.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15184075

Interpretive Summary: Accurate estimation of dietary intake is challenging. Although some progress has been made in dietary intake assessment in high-income countries, low- and middle-income countries remain behind, contributing to critical nutritional data gaps. We aimed to validate an objective, passive image-based dietary intake assessment method against weighed food records. Wearable cameras were used to capture food intake on pre-weighed meals of adults and children of Ghanaian and Kenyan origin living in London. Food images were assessed for portion size, energy, nutrient intake, and the relative validity of the method compared to the weighed food records. We found that passive food image capture and analysis provides an objective assessment of dietary intake compared to weighed food records. These findings highlight a possible intervention measurement strategy for future studies.

Technical Abstract: Accurate estimation of dietary intake is challenging. However, whilst some progress has been made in high-income countries, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remain behind, contributing to critical nutritional data gaps. This study aimed to validate an objective, passive image-based dietary intake assessment method against weighed food records in London, UK, for onward deployment to LMICs. Wearable camera devices were used to capture food intake on eating occasions in 18 adults and 17 children of Ghanaian and Kenyan origin living in London. Participants were provided pre-weighed meals of Ghanaian and Kenyan cuisine and camera devices to automatically capture images of the eating occasions. Food images were assessed for portion size, energy, nutrient intake, and the relative validity of the method compared to the weighed food records. The Pearson and Intraclass correlation coefficients of estimates of intakes of food, energy, and 19 nutrients ranged from 0.60 to 0.95 and 0.67 to 0.90, respectively. Bland–Altman analysis showed good agreement between the image-based method and the weighed food record. Under-estimation of dietary intake by the image-based method ranged from 4 to 23%. Passive food image capture and analysis provides an objective assessment of dietary intake comparable to weighed food records.