Development of a food frequency questionnaire to estimate habitual dietary intake in Japanese children

Abstract

BackgroundFood frequency questionnaires (FFQ) are used for epidemiological studies. Because of the wide variations in dietary habits within different populations, a FFQ must be developed to suit the specific group. To date, no FFQ has been developed for Japanese children. In this study, we developed a FFQ to assess the regular dietary intake of Japanese children. The FFQ included questions regarding both individual food items and mixed dishes.MethodsChildren (3-11 years of age, n = 621) were recruited as subjects. Their parents or guardians completed a weighed dietary record (WDR) for each subject in one day. We defined FOOD to be not only as a single food item but also as a mixed dish. The dieticians conceptually grouped similar FOODs as FOOD types. We used a contribution analysis and a multiple regression analysis to select FOOD types.ResultsWe obtained a total of 586 children's dietary data (297 boys and 289 girls). In addition, we obtained 1,043 FOODs. Dieticians grouped into similar FOODs, yielding 275 FOOD types. A total of 115 FOOD types were chosen using a contribution analysis and a multiple regression analysis, then we excluded overlapping items. FOOD types that were eaten by fewer than 15 subjects were excluded; 74 FOOD types remained. We also added liver-based dishes that provided a high amount of retinol. A total of 75 FOOD types were finally determined for the FFQ. The frequency response formats were classified into four type categories: seven, eight, nine and eleven, according to the general intake frequency of each FOOD type. Information on portion size was obtained from the photographs of each listed FOOD type in real scale size, which was the average amount of the children's portion sizes.ConclusionsUsing both a contribution analysis and a multiple regression analysis, we developed a 75-food item questionnaire from the study involving 586 children. The next step will involve the verification of FFQ reproducibility and validity.

Estimation of Food Portion Sizes Frequently Consumed by Children 3–6 Years Old in Japan

“…1 "n (%)" shows the number of subjects who consumed that food on the survey day (the percentage of all subjects (489)). 2 "Furikake" is seasoned powder for cooked rice. "Well-milled rice, cooked, total" includes both of rice with and without Furikake.…”

“…Model 1 included age, sex, and height as independent variables, and model 2 included age, sex, and weight. 2 The reference group was boys.…”

“…Data on food portion sizes among Japanese children are lacking; this hampers the establishment of a valid measurement tool and an effective education method about nutrient intake for children. Although two food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) for Japanese young children have been validated and reported recently (2,3), neither used portion sizes estimated from actual measured food weights to calculate food and nutrient intake.…”

Comparison of sweetness preference and motivational factors between Korean and Japanese children

“…The TPB questionnaire component examined affective and cognitive attitudes, normative beliefs, motivation to comply, perceived behavioral control (PBC), and BI. Affective and cognitive attitudes were assessed using 2 (Cronbach's α: 0.751) and 4 (Cronbach's α: 0.67) items modified from previous studies, 1,23 and responses were provided using a 5-point scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Items assessing normative belief, motivation to comply, PBC, and BI were modified from a previous study.…”

Development and validation of a food frequency questionnaire for dietary intake assessment among multi-ethic primary school-aged children

“…(2) Such evaluations can determine potential dietary problems and allow corrective action to be taken to change bad eating habits. (3) There is, therefore, an increasing need for reliable intake measurements of foods that are consumed as part of a regular diet. Developing valid, effi cient and cost-effective tools to assess the nutritional intake of children is a key research priority.…”