Weight change as an indicator of energy imbalance during 7 day weighed food intake studies

We have explored the possibility of undereating while recording intake by measuring weight change over the weighed intake period in 40 healthy adult men who kept two 7‐day weighed intake records and simultaneous records of physical activity level (PAL).

Subjects lost weight over both weeks of recording intake (p < 0.01). Weight change was not related to individual estimated energy imbalance, i.e. the recorded intake and predicted energy requirements based on predicted basal metabolic rate (BMR) and PAL.

However on analysis of a sub group of ‘large’ and ‘small’ eaters, nearly 50% of the difference in recorded intake between the two groups could be explained by body weight change: the remaining could be explained by difference in physical activity and measured BMR between the two groups.

Measuring weight change during a 7‐day weighed intake study may be useful in assessing whether groups have a tendency to undereat when asked to personally record intake data.

Key words:

• weighed intake
• energy balance
• weight change
• man