Comparison of Multiple-Pass 24-Hour Recall Estimates of Energy Intake With Total Energy Expenditure Determined By the Doubly Labeled Water Method in Young Children

Objective This study determined the accuracy of the multiple-pass 24-hour recall method for estimating energy intake in young children by comparing it with measurements of total energy expenditure made using the doubly labeled water method.Design Three multiple-pass 24-hour recalls were obtained over a 14-day period to estimate mean energy intake. Total energy expenditure was measured over the same 14-day period under free-living conditions using the doubly labeled water technique.Subjects/setting Twenty-four children between the ages of 4 and 7 years were tested at the General Clinical Research Center/Sims Obesity Nutrition Research Center at the University of Vermont.Statistical analysist Tests, paired t tests, Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients, pairwise comparison to show relative bias and limits of agreement, and regression analysis were used to test the relationships among study variables.Results No difference was found between 3-day mean energy intake and total energy expenditure for the group (t=2.07, P=.65). The correlation between individual measures of energy intake and total energy expenditure was not statistically significant (r=.25, P=.24).Conclusions Data from 3 days of multiple-pass 24-hour recalls were sufficient to make valid group estimates of energy intake. The method was not precise for individual measurements of energy intake. J Am Diet Assoc. 1996; 96:1140-1144.