Abstract

The aim was to explore the agreement over 24 h between observed and participant self-reported energy intake in adolescent netball players (habitual exercisers). Thirteen girls; age 16±1 years; stature 1.68±0.06 m; mass 61.1±8.0 kg; body mass index 21.6±2.5 kg/m²; body fat 21.5±6.9%; dietary restraint 2.13±0.63 (average category for high school females)1 and maturity offset 2.7±0.5 years from peak height velocity (positive maturity offset). The participants spent 12 h at Northumbria University, from 08:00 in the morning to 20:00 in the evening. They were provided with breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with ad libitum snacks throughout the day and for the period between 20:00 and 08:00 the following morning. All items were pre weighed or measured by the observer to determine the energy intake (MJ) content. These were then numerically coded and the participants could collect food and drink items at their discretion throughout the day. The participants were instructed to inform a member of the research team of the numerical code of each item collected to later calculate observed energy intake (MJ), taking into account all leftover food or drink items. Participant recorded energy intake (MJ) was calculated using a combined self-reported, weighed food record, where all food and drink items were manually weighed or measured and recorded in a food diary by the participants and confirmed during a 24-h recall interview with the observer the following morning. Agreement between observer and participant self-reported energy intake was calculated. Energy intake mean bias±random error equated to 0.46±1.5 MJ (1.96 SD of the mean difference), therefore the 95% limits of agreement was large, ranging from −1.04 to 1.96 MJ/days. The 95% CI for bias, however, ranged from 0.00 to 0.92 MJ/days. Overall, the combined self-reported, weighed food diary and 24-h recall interview technique indicated good agreement at the group level, therefore providing a means for assessing self-reported energy intake in habitual exercisers.