Research
Adherence
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.
When tracking your diet, you are likely omitting snacks, sodas, and high-fat foods because you view them negatively. To get an accurate picture, you must record these items honestly, even if you feel they are 'bad'.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
It has become clearer that low-energy reporters often fail to report those foods that have a 'bad' or even 'sinful' connotation (20)... In a large U.S. survey... the following were among the foods less likely to be reported: cakes/pie, savory snacks, cheese, white potatoes, meat mixtures, regular soft drinks, fat-type spreads, and condiments (21).
Why this rating
Supported by specific survey data (references 21, 22) comparing reporters vs. non-reporters.
Source
Dietary Intake—How Do We Measure What People Are <i>Really</i> Eating?
Rachel K. Johnson · Obesity Research · 2002
narrative_reviewCited 239×
Read the paper 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 →