Research
Adherence
The multiple-pass 24-hour recall is the recommended method for estimating energy intake during obesity treatment because it minimizes underreporting compared to other traditional methods.
Ask your clinician to use a 'multiple-pass' 24-hour recall method for at least 3 days (including a weekend). This involves a structured interview where they probe for forgotten foods (snacks, drinks) in multiple steps. This is more accurate than simple food diaries or questionnaires.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Because the multiple-pass 24-hour recall was designed to estimate current nutrient intake and attempts to minimize the problem of low-energy reporting, it is recommended as the method of choice for estimating energy intake during obesity treatment and follow-up.
Why this rating
The paper cites validation studies (references 27, 28, 30, 31) showing its accuracy, particularly in children and controlled adult settings.
Source
Dietary Intake—How Do We Measure What People Are <i>Really</i> Eating?
Rachel K. Johnson · Obesity Research · 2002
DOI 10.1038/oby.2002.192
narrative_reviewCited 239×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Obese individuals systematically and significantly underreport their energy intake compared to lean individuals, with underestimation ranging from 30% to 47%.Good
- Obese individuals selectively underreport high-calorie, 'bad' foods (cakes, snacks, sodas) while reporting low-calorie, 'good' foods (vegetables, fruits) with similar accuracy to lean individuals.Good
Related findings · Adherence
- Regular physical activity (at least 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity) reduces all-cause and cardiovascular mortality by 20-30% and lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes by 25-35%.Strong
- Increasing physical activity from a sedentary lifestyle to an active one in middle adulthood significantly reduces the risk of coronary events compared to remaining sedentary.Strong
- Resistance exercise is the only intervention capable of consistently restoring muscle function and strength in sarcopenia, partially overcoming age-related anabolic resistance.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →