During the COVID-19 pandemic Young Lives adapted to use remote data collection methods. including collaborating with others to adapt a dietary intake assessment.  In this article, the authors describe how a face to face questionnaire on food frequency was adapted, validated and self administered on line by 426 young Peruvian adults. They describe how this Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was developed including the selection of food items, portion sizes, and food frequency response options.

The validity of the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was assessed by estimating the misreporting of energy intake (EI). Tests were conducted to examine how this misreporting was associated with sociodemographic characteristics, body mass index (BMI)

The authors found that 31% of those who completed the questionnaire either under or overreported their energy intake (EI). This is a similar figure to previously studies on misreporting of EI and was mostly explained by education level and sex but not by other sociodemographic characteristics such as physical activity, sedentary behavior, and BMI.

The authors conclude that despite the fact that quantifying dietary intake is a complex task and susceptible to inaccuracies, the adapted online Food Frequency Questionnaire was proved reliable and valid for assessing dietary intakes among Peruvian young adults during the COVID pandemic and that FFQ's are useful for informing dietary guidance and public health policy.  

This full article is available here in the journal Frontiers.

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