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Examining the Utility of a Bite-Count–Based Measure of Eating Activity in Free-Living Human Beings

Authors :
Adam Hoover
Jenna L. Scisco
Eric R. Muth
Source :
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 114:464-469
Publication Year :
2014
Publisher :
Elsevier BV, 2014.

Abstract

The obesity epidemic has triggered a need for novel methods for measuring eating activity in free-living settings. Here, we introduce a bite-count method that has the potential to be used in long-term investigations of eating activity. The purpose of our observational study was to describe the relationship between bite count and energy intake and determine whether there are sex and body mass index group differences in kilocalories per bite in free-living human beings. From October 2011 to February 2012, 77 participants used a wrist-worn device for 2 weeks to measure bite count during 2,975 eating activities. An automated self-administered 24-hour recall was completed daily to provide kilocalorie estimates for each eating activity. Pearson's correlation indicated a moderate, positive correlation between bite count and kilocalories (r=0.44; P0.001) across all 2,975 eating activities. The average per-individual correlation was 0.53. A 2 (sex)×3 (body mass index group: normal, overweight, obese) analysis of variance indicated that men consumed 6 kcal more per bite than women on average. However, there were no body mass index group differences in kilocalories per bite. This was the longest study of a body-worn sensor for monitoring eating activity of free-living human beings to date, which highlights the strong potential for this method to be used in future, long-term investigations.

Details

ISSN :
22122672
Volume :
114
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....5043c1d1e8f5f100b76a07779f488c5d
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2013.09.017