Research

Adherence

A Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) provides a valid estimate of total energy intake relative to doubly-labeled water measurements in free-living populations, whereas 24-hour recalls are prone to significant underreporting, particularly in women and heavy alcohol consumers.

If you are tracking your diet to manage weight, be aware that 24-hour recalls often underestimate how much you eat, especially if you drink alcohol or are a woman. A Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) may provide a more accurate picture of your total energy intake relative to your actual energy expenditure. Do not rely solely on daily food logs if you suspect you are underreporting.

ModerateQualifiesMEDIUM confidence
Energy intake assessed by FFQ was significantly correlated with TEE (r=0.48, p=0.03)... Energy intake assessed in women by 24-hour recall and FFQ was underreported by 20% when compared to TEE... The present study supports its [FFQ] use, especially in populations with high alcohol consumption.
Leslie O. Schulz et al. · Obesity Research · 1994

Why this rating

Small sample size (N=21) and specific demographic (Pima Indians) limit generalizability, though the use of DLW as a gold standard is high quality.

Source

Energy Intake and Physical Activity in Pima Indians: Comparison with Energy Expenditure Measured by Doubly‐Labeled Water

Leslie O. Schulz et al. · Obesity Research · 1994

DOI 10.1002/j.1550-8528.1994.tb00103.x

cross_sectional · n=21Cited 96×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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