Electronic dietary recording system improves nutrition knowledge, eating attitudes and habitual physical activity: A randomised controlled trial

• Published in: Eating behaviors : an international journal 2014-08, Vol.15 (3), p.410-413
• Main Authors: Chung, Louisa Ming Yan, Law, Queenie Pui Sze, Fong, Shirley Siu Ming, Chung, Joanne Wai Yee
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Behavioural change; Biological and medical sciences; Diet - psychology; Diet Records; Eating - psychology; Eating attitude; Electronic dietary recording system; Electronics; Exercise - psychology; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Hong Kong; Humans; Illness and personality; Male; Middle Aged; Nutrition knowledge; Nutritional Sciences - education; Personality, behavior and health; Physical activity level; Psychology and medicine; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Recommended Dietary Allowances; Self-monitoring; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1471-0153; 1873-7358
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2014.04.011

This study's objective was to investigate whether use of an electronic dietary recording system improves nutrition knowledge, eating attitudes and habitual physical activity levels compared to use of a food diary and no self-monitoring. Sixty adults aged 20–60 with a body mass index ≥25 were recruited and randomly assigned to one of three groups: a group using an electronic system (EG), a group using a food diary (FD) and a control group using nothing (CG) to record food intake. All participants took part in three 60–90 nutrition seminars and completed three questionnaires on general nutrition knowledge, habitual physical activity levels and eating attitudes at the beginning and end of the 12-week study. The pre- and post-test scores for each questionnaire were analysed using a paired sample t-test. Significant improvements in the domain of ‘dietary recommendations’ were found in the EG (p=0.009) and FD groups (p=0.046). Great improvements were found in ‘sources of nutrients’, ‘choosing everyday foods’ and ‘diet–disease relationships’ in EG and FD groups. EG group showed greater improvement in the work index and sport index. An electronic dietary recording system may improve eating and exercise behaviour in a self-monitoring process. •It is an innovative application of internet system in behavioural modification.•Electronic dietary recording can be turned to dietary review with feedback.•Online dietary review improves nutrition knowledge and eating attitude•Energy outputs as physical activity recorded motivate exercise.•Electronic dietary recording and reviewing facilitated the self-monitoring process.