Validity and reproducibility of food photographic estimation for evaluating meals in evacuation shelters

Haruka Kobayashi; Noriko Sudo; Nobuyo Tsuboyama-Kasaoka; Ikuko Shimada; Keiichi Sato; Haruka Kobayashi; Noriko Sudo; Nobuyo Tsuboyama-Kasaoka; Ikuko Shimada; Keiichi Sato

doi:10.3934/publichealth.2023013

AIMS Public Health

2023, Volume 10, Issue 1: 169-182. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2023013

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Research article Topical Sections

Validity and reproducibility of food photographic estimation for evaluating meals in evacuation shelters

1.
Ochanomizu University, Tokyo, Japan
2.
National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Osaka, Japan
3.
University of Kochi, Kochi, Japan
4.
Senshu University, Kanagawa, Japan

Received: 12 October 2022 Revised: 29 January 2023 Accepted: 21 February 2023 Published: 07 March 2023

Objective
The primary goal was to evaluate the validity of food photographic estimation for nutritional assessment compared with weighed food record (WFR).

Methods
We evaluated the validity and reproducibility of photographic estimation of foods provided in evacuation shelters. We analyzed 35 meals served at 12 shelters in Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan, affected by a heavy rain disaster in 2020. In this context, we compared 21 senior students' portion size estimation by food photographs to WFR. In addition, we assigned five meals for each of the 21 senior students, and the same meal photograph was estimated by three students to test reproducibility.

Results
No statistically significant difference was detected between the two methods regarding energy, the total grams of meal, the protein, and vitamins B₁, B₂, and C, except for salt. In addition, the students who never self-cooked underestimated the total grams.

Conclusion
Food photographic estimation could simplify the nutritional assessment in evacuation shelters. However, unclear photographs and food items served by weight could weaken the estimation accuracy. According to previous studies and the applied postestimation questionnaire, photographs taken from specified angles and reference food photobooks for portion size estimation may improve accuracy.
- food photograph,
- validity,
- reproducibility,
- portion size,
- evacuation shelter
Citation: Haruka Kobayashi, Noriko Sudo, Nobuyo Tsuboyama-Kasaoka, Ikuko Shimada, Keiichi Sato. Validity and reproducibility of food photographic estimation for evaluating meals in evacuation shelters[J]. AIMS Public Health, 2023, 10(1): 169-182. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2023013

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Abstract

Objective

The primary goal was to evaluate the validity of food photographic estimation for nutritional assessment compared with weighed food record (WFR).

Methods

We evaluated the validity and reproducibility of photographic estimation of foods provided in evacuation shelters. We analyzed 35 meals served at 12 shelters in Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan, affected by a heavy rain disaster in 2020. In this context, we compared 21 senior students' portion size estimation by food photographs to WFR. In addition, we assigned five meals for each of the 21 senior students, and the same meal photograph was estimated by three students to test reproducibility.

Results

No statistically significant difference was detected between the two methods regarding energy, the total grams of meal, the protein, and vitamins B₁, B₂, and C, except for salt. In addition, the students who never self-cooked underestimated the total grams.

Conclusion

Food photographic estimation could simplify the nutritional assessment in evacuation shelters. However, unclear photographs and food items served by weight could weaken the estimation accuracy. According to previous studies and the applied postestimation questionnaire, photographs taken from specified angles and reference food photobooks for portion size estimation may improve accuracy.

Acknowledgments

This study received the Health Labour Sciences Research Grant: [number 20FA2001] (principal investigator: Noriko Sudo). We are grateful to all those who voluntarily participated in this study and the prefectural government of Kumamoto for providing us with this valuable data.

Conflict of interest

All authors declare no conflicts of interest in this paper.

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