An evaluation of portion size estimation aids: precision, ease of use and likelihood of future use

AbstractObjectiveThe present study aimed to evaluate the precision, ease of use and likelihood of future use of portion size estimation aids (PSEA).DesignA range of PSEA were used to estimate the serving sizes of a range of commonly eaten foods and rated for ease of use and likelihood of future usage.SettingFor each food, participants selected their preferred PSEA from a range of options including: quantities and measures; reference objects; measuring; and indicators on food packets. These PSEA were used to serve out various foods (e.g. liquid, amorphous, and composite dishes). Ease of use and likelihood of future use were noted. The foods were weighed to determine the precision of each PSEA.SubjectsMales and females aged 18–64 years (n 120).ResultsThe quantities and measures were the most precise PSEA (lowest range of weights for estimated portion sizes). However, participants preferred household measures (e.g. 200 ml disposable cup) – deemed easy to use (median rating of 5), likely to use again in future (all scored either 4 or 5 on a scale from 1=‘not very likely’ to 5=‘very likely to use again’) and precise (narrow range of weights for estimated portion sizes). The majority indicated they would most likely use the PSEA preparing a meal (94 %), particularly dinner (86 %) in the home (89 %; all P<0·001) for amorphous grain foods.ConclusionsHousehold measures may be precise, easy to use and acceptable aids for estimating the appropriate portion size of amorphous grain foods.

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Accuracy of estimates of food portion size using food photographs – the importance of using age-appropriate tools

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1079/phn2005872 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 509-514 ◽

Cited By ~ 76

Author(s):

Emma Foster ◽

John NS Matthews ◽

Michael Nelson ◽

Julie M Harris ◽

John C Mathers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Original Data ◽

Portion Size ◽

Size Estimation ◽

Average Accuracy ◽

Portion Sizes ◽

Food Portion ◽

Age Appropriate ◽

Portion Size Estimation ◽

Size Estimates ◽

Food Portion Size

AbstractBackgroundIn order to obtain a measure of nutrient intake, a measure or estimate of the amount of food consumed is required. Weighing foods imposes a large burden on subjects, often resulting in underreporting. Tools are available to assist subjects in providing an estimate of portion size and these include food photographs. The application of these tools in improving portion size estimation by children has not been investigated systematically.ObjectivesTo assess the accuracy with which children are able to estimate food portion sizes using food photographs designed for use with adults, and to determine whether the accuracy of estimates is improved when age-appropriate portion size photographs are provided.DesignOriginal data from three separate studies, on the accuracy of portion size estimates by adults using food photographs, by children using adult photographs and by children using age-appropriate photographs, are analysed and compared.SubjectsOne hundred and thirty-five adults aged 18 to 90 years and 210 children aged 4 to 11 years.ResultsChildren's estimates of portion sizes using age-appropriate food photographs were significantly more accurate (an underestimate of 1% on average) than estimates using photographs designed for use with adults (an overestimate of 45% on average). Accuracy of children's estimates of portion size using age-appropriate photographs was not significantly different from that of adults. Children overestimated a food's weight by 18% on average and adults underestimated by 5%.ConclusionsProviding children with food photographs depicting age-appropriate portion sizes greatly increases the accuracy of portion size estimates compared with estimates using photographs designed for use with adults.

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Food photographs in nutritional surveillance: errors in portion size estimation using drawings of bread and photographs of margarine and beverages consumption

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s0007114510004551 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 105 (7) ◽

pp. 1073-1083 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Willem De Keyzer ◽

Inge Huybrechts ◽

Mieke De Maeyer ◽

Marga Ocké ◽

Nadia Slimani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Estimation Error ◽

Portion Size ◽

Size Estimation ◽

Specific Context ◽

Estimation Errors ◽

Food Consumption Survey ◽

Portion Sizes ◽

Nutritional Surveillance ◽

Study Population ◽

Portion Size Estimation

Food photographs are widely used as instruments to estimate portion sizes of consumed foods. Several food atlases are available, all developed to be used in a specific context and for a given study population. Frequently, food photographs are adopted for use in other studies with a different context or another study population. In the present study, errors in portion size estimation of bread, margarine on bread and beverages by two-dimensional models used in the context of a Belgian food consumption survey are investigated. A sample of 111 men and women (age 45–65 years) were invited for breakfast; two test groups were created. One group was asked to estimate portion sizes of consumed foods using photographs 1–2 d after consumption, and a second group was asked the same after 4 d. Also, real-time assessment of portion sizes using photographs was performed. At the group level, large overestimation of margarine, acceptable underestimation of bread and only small estimation errors for beverages were found. Women tended to have smaller estimation errors for bread and margarine compared with men, while the opposite was found for beverages. Surprisingly, no major difference in estimation error was found after 4 d compared with 1–2 d. Individual estimation errors were large for all foods. The results from the present study suggest that the use of food photographs for portion size estimation of bread and beverages is acceptable for use in nutrition surveys. For photographs of margarine on bread, further validation using smaller amounts corresponding to actual consumption is recommended.

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Children's estimates of food portion size: the development and evaluation of three portion size assessment tools for use with children

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s000711450779390x ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 99 (1) ◽

pp. 175-184 ◽

Cited By ~ 58

Author(s):

E. Foster ◽

J. N. S. Matthews ◽

J. Lloyd ◽

L. Marshall ◽

J. C. Mathers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dietary Intake ◽

Real Life ◽

Assessment System ◽

Portion Size ◽

Assessment Tools ◽

Size Estimation ◽

School Food ◽

Portion Sizes ◽

Real Life Situation ◽

Portion Size Estimation

A number of methods have been developed to assist subjects in providing an estimate of portion size but their application in improving portion size estimation by children has not been investigated systematically. The aim was to develop portion size assessment tools for use with children and to assess the accuracy of children's estimates of portion size using the tools. The tools were food photographs, food models and an interactive portion size assessment system (IPSAS). Children (n 201), aged 4–16 years, were supplied with known quantities of food to eat, in school. Food leftovers were weighed. Children estimated the amount of each food using each tool, 24 h after consuming the food. The age-specific portion sizes represented were based on portion sizes consumed by children in a national survey. Significant differences were found between the accuracy of estimates using the three tools. Children of all ages performed well using the IPSAS and food photographs. The accuracy and precision of estimates made using the food models were poor. For all tools, estimates of the amount of food served were more accurate than estimates of the amount consumed. Issues relating to reporting of foods left over which impact on estimates of the amounts of foods actually consumed require further study. The IPSAS has shown potential for assessment of dietary intake with children. Before practical application in assessment of dietary intake of children the tool would need to be expanded to cover a wider range of foods and to be validated in a ‘real-life’ situation.

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Optimizing portion-size estimation aids: a formative evaluation in Malawi

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980019001733 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 22 (17) ◽

pp. 3127-3139 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Courtney H Schnefke ◽

Chrissie Thakwalakwa ◽

Mary K Muth ◽

John Phuka ◽

Jennifer Coates ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Formative Evaluation ◽

Simultaneous Presentation ◽

Structured Interview ◽

Ease Of Use ◽

Portion Size ◽

Sequential Presentation ◽

Size Estimation ◽

Resource Setting ◽

Visual Characteristics ◽

Portion Size Estimation

AbstractObjective:To investigate preferences for and ease-of-use perceptions of different aspects of printed and digitally displayed photographic portion-size estimation aids (PSEA) in a low-resource setting and to document accuracy of portion-size selections using PSEA with different visual characteristics.Design:A convergent mixed-methods design and stepwise approach were used to assess characteristics of interest in isolation. Participants served themselves food and water, which were weighed before and after consumption to measure leftovers and quantity consumed. Thirty minutes later, data collectors administered a meal recall using a PSEA and then a semi-structured interview.Setting:Blantyre and Chikwawa Districts in the southern region of Malawi.Participants:Ninety-six women, aged 18–45 years.Results:Preferences and ease-of-use perceptions favoured photographs rather than drawings of shapes, three and five portion-size options rather than three with four virtual portion-size options, a 45° rather than a 90° photograph angle, and simultaneous rather than sequential presentation of portion-size options. Approximately half to three-quarters of participants found the portion-size options represented appropriate amounts of foods or water consumed. Photographs with three portion sizes resulted in more accurate portion-size selections (closest to measured consumption) than other format and number of portion-size option combinations. A 45° angle and simultaneous presentation were more accurate than a 90° angle and sequential presentation of images.Conclusions:Results from testing PSEA visual characteristics separately can be used to generate optimal PSEA, which can improve participants’ experiences during meal recalls.

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Feasibility of Reviewing Digital Food Images for Dietary Assessment among Nutrition Professionals

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu10080984 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. 984 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Ayob Ainaa Fatehah ◽

Bee Koon Poh ◽

Safii Nik Shanita ◽

Jyh Eiin Wong

Keyword(s):

Dietary Assessment ◽

Portion Size ◽

Size Estimation ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Actual Weight ◽

Percentage Difference ◽

Portion Sizes ◽

Food Images ◽

Portion Size Estimation ◽

Nutrition Professionals

Validity of image-assisted and image-based dietary assessment methods relies on the accuracy of portion size estimation based on food images. However, little is known on the ability of nutrition professionals in assessing dietary intake based on digital food images. This study aims to examine the ability of nutrition professionals in reviewing food images with regard to food item identification and portion size estimation. Thirty-eight nutritionists, dietitians, and nutrition researchers participated in this study. Through an online questionnaire, participants’ accuracy in identifying food items and estimating portion sizes of two sets of digital food images presenting a meal on a plate (Image PL) and in a bowl (Image BW) were tested. Participants reported higher accuracy in interpreting Image BW compared to Image PL, both in terms of accuracy in food identification (75.3 ± 17.6 vs. 68.9 ± 17.1%) and percentage difference in portion size estimation (44.3 ± 16.6 vs. 47.6 ± 21.2%). Weight of raw vegetables was significantly underestimated (−45.1 ± 22.8% vs. −21.2 ± 37.4%), while drink was significantly overestimated (40.1 ± 45.8% vs. 26.1 ± 32.2) in both images. Less than one-third of the participants estimated portion size within 10% of actual weight for Image PL (23.7%) and Image BW (32.3%). Accuracy of nutrition professionals in reviewing food images could be further improved with training on better perception of portion sizes from images.

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Simple methods to obtain a food listing and portion size distribution estimates for use in semi-quantitative dietary assessment methods

10.1101/637025 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Christine Hotz ◽

Lubowa Abdelrahman

Keyword(s):

Size Distribution ◽

Dietary Assessment ◽

Estimation Method ◽

Portion Size ◽

Size Estimation ◽

Dietary Assessment Methods ◽

Portion Sizes ◽

Survey Population ◽

24 Hour Recall ◽

Portion Size Estimation

AbstractSemi-quantitative dietary assessment methods are frequently used in low income countries, and the use of photographic series for portion size estimation is gaining popularity. However, when adequate data on commonly consumed foods and portion sizes are not available to design these tools, alternative data sources are needed. This study aimed to develop and test methods to: (i) identify foods likely to be consumed in a study population in rural Uganda, and; (ii) to derive distributions of portion sizes for common foods and dishes. A process was designed to derive detailed food and recipe lists using guided group interviews with women from the survey population, including a ranking for the likelihood of foods being consumed. A rapid recall method to estimate portion sizes using direct weight by a representative sample of the survey population was designed and implemented. Results were compared to data from a 24 hour dietary recall. Of the 82 food items reported in the 24 hour recall survey, 87% were among those ranked with a high or medium likelihood of being consumed and accounted for 95% of kilocalories. Of the most frequently reported foods in the 24 hour recall, portion sizes for many (15/25), but not all foods did not differ significantly (p<0.05) from those in the portion size estimation method. The percent of portion sizes reported in the 24 hour recall between the 5th and 95th percentiles determined by the portion size distribution estimation method ranged from a low of 18% up to 100%. In conclusion, a simple food listing and ranking method effectively identified foods most likely to occur in a dietary survey. A simple method to obtain reliable portion size distributions was effective for many foods, while the approach for others should be modified. These methods are an improvement on those in current use.

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The accuracy of portion size estimation using food images and textual descriptions of portion sizes: an evaluation study

Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics ◽

10.1111/jhn.12878 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Desiree A. Lucassen ◽

Romy F. Willemsen ◽

Anouk Geelen ◽

Elske M. Brouwer‐Brolsma ◽

Edith J.M. Feskens

Keyword(s):

Evaluation Study ◽

Portion Size ◽

Size Estimation ◽

Portion Sizes ◽

Food Images ◽

Portion Size Estimation

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An evaluation of a virtual atlas of portion sizes (VAPS) mobile augmented reality for portion size estimation

Virtual Reality ◽

10.1007/s10055-020-00484-0 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Meng Chun Lam ◽

Nur Afyfah Suwadi ◽

Adibah Huda Mohd Zainul Arifien ◽

Bee Koon Poh ◽

Nik Shanita Safii ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Augmented Reality ◽

Dietary Assessment ◽

3D Models ◽

Health Science ◽

Portion Size ◽

Size Estimation ◽

Portion Sizes ◽

Food Portion ◽

Science Group ◽

Portion Size Estimation

Abstract Food portion size estimation is a critical yet challenging task in dietary assessment. Augmented reality technology enables the presentation of food dimensions and volume in a virtual three-dimensional object. It has the potential to improve perception and estimation of portion sizes. This study aims to develop and evaluate a novel mobile augmented reality application, namely Virtual Atlas of Portion Sizes (VAPS), as a portion size estimation aid. The development methodology of VAPS involves food photography, reconstruction of 3D models using photogrammetry method and presenting them in an AR environment. The 3D food models displayed in either semi-transparent or vivid mode for users to perform food portion estimation. Users can then resize and rotate the 3D models to fit the virtual model with the actual food. A total of thirty-six participants were involved in the evaluation and were divided into a health science and a non-health science background group. VAPS received good usability level with 76 SUS score. In terms of task completion time, unsurprisingly, the health science group performed faster. However, both groups have equivalent accuracy on the food portion estimation task using VAPS: 22.5% for non-health science group and 26.6% for health science group. The health science group liked and have better accuracy in vivid 3D food models (37.5%). Meanwhile, the non-health science group preferred semi-transparent 3D food models, but the accuracy is not significantly different between semi-transparent (25%) and vivid 3D food model (20%). Results demonstrate the potential of VAPS to aid in portion size estimation for dietary assessment, and participants’ feedback will be incorporated in the future for improvement of the app.

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Food photographs in portion size estimation among adolescent Mozambican girls

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980012003655 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 16 (9) ◽

pp. 1558-1564 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Liisa Korkalo ◽

Maijaliisa Erkkola ◽

Lourdes Fidalgo ◽

Jaakko Nevalainen ◽

Marja Mutanen

Keyword(s):

Portion Size ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Size Estimation ◽

Dietary Recall ◽

Portion Sizes ◽

Different Populations ◽

Staple Foods ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Mean Differences ◽

Portion Size Estimation

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the validity of food photographs in portion size estimation among adolescent girls in Mozambique. The study was carried out in preparation for the larger ZANE study, which used the 24 h dietary recall method.DesignLife-sized photographs of three portion sizes of two staple foods and three sauces were produced. Participants ate weighed portions of one staple food and one sauce. After the meal, they were asked to estimate the amount of food with the aid of the food photographs.SettingZambezia Province, Mozambique.SubjectsNinety-nine girls aged 13–18 years.ResultsThe mean differences between estimated and actual portion sizes relative to the actual portion size ranged from −19 % to 8 % for different foods. The respective mean difference for all foods combined was −5 % (95 % CI −12, 2 %). Especially larger portions of the staple foods were often underestimated. For the staple foods, between 62 % and 64 % of the participants were classified into the same thirds of the distribution of estimated and actual food consumption and for sauces, the percentages ranged from 38 % to 63 %. Bland–Altman plots showed wide limits of agreement.ConclusionsUsing life-sized food photographs among adolescent Mozambican girls resulted in a rather large variation in the accuracy of individuals’ estimates. The ability to rank individuals according to their consumption was, however, satisfactory for most foods. There seems to be a need to further develop and test food photographs used in different populations in Sub-Saharan Africa to improve the accuracy of portion size estimates.

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Accuracy of hands v. household measures as portion size estimation aids

Journal of Nutritional Science ◽

10.1017/jns.2016.22 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Alice A. Gibson ◽

Michelle S. H. Hsu ◽

Anna M. Rangan ◽

Radhika V. Seimon ◽

Crystal M. Y. Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Estimation Method ◽

Accurate Method ◽

Portion Size ◽

Accurate Estimation ◽

Size Estimation ◽

Female Age ◽

Percentage Difference ◽

Portion Sizes ◽

Finger Width ◽

Portion Size Estimation

AbstractAccurate estimation of food portion size is critical in dietary studies. Hands are potentially useful as portion size estimation aids; however, their accuracy has not been tested. The aim of the present study was to test the accuracy of a novel portion size estimation method using the width of the fingers as a ‘ruler’ to measure the dimensions of foods (‘finger width method’), as well as fists and thumb or finger tips. These hand measures were also compared with household measures (cups and spoons). A total of sixty-seven participants (70 % female; age 32·7 (sd 13·7) years; BMI 23·2 (sd 3·5) kg/m2) attended a 1·5 h session in which they estimated the portion sizes of forty-two pre-weighed foods and liquids. Hand measurements were used in conjunction with geometric formulas to convert estimations to volumes. Volumes determined with hand and household methods were converted to estimated weights using density factors. Estimated weights were compared with true weights, and the percentage difference from the true weight was used to compare accuracy between the hand and household methods. Of geometrically shaped foods and liquids estimated with the finger width method, 80 % were within ±25 % of the true weight of the food, and 13 % were within ±10 %, in contrast to 29 % of those estimated with the household method being within ±25 % of the true weight of the food, and 8 % being within ±10 %. For foods that closely resemble a geometric shape, the finger width method provides a novel and acceptably accurate method of estimating portion size.

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