Evaluation of a Food Frequency Questionnaire for Capturing Free Sugars Intake in Australian Young Children: The InFANT FFQ

Miaobing Zheng (), Mihiri Silva, Stephanie Heitkonig, Gavin Abbott, Sarah A. McNaughton and Karen J. Campbell
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Miaobing Zheng: Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
Mihiri Silva: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
Stephanie Heitkonig: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
Gavin Abbott: Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
Sarah A. McNaughton: Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
Karen J. Campbell: Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 2, 1-9

Abstract: Excess free sugars intake contributes to dental caries and obesity in children. Food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) that assess free sugars intake in young children are limited. This study evaluated the utility of a 68-item FFQ to assess free sugars intake in Australian young children against three 24-h recalls at ages 1.5, 3.5, and 5.0 years. Free sugars intakes estimated from two methods were compared using group- and individual-level validation tests. Group-level tests revealed that mean free sugars intakes estimated from two methods were similar and Bland-Altman tests revealed no presence of proportional bias at age 1.5 years. For ages 3.5 and 5.0 years, the FFQ underestimated the free sugars intake compared to the recalls, and Bland-Altman tests revealed proportional bias. For individual-level tests, the deattenuated correlation ( R ) between free sugars intakes estimated from two methods exhibited good agreement across three time-points (R: 0.54–0.62), as were the percentage agreement (68.5–73.6%) and weighted kappa (K w : 0.26–0.39). The FFQ showed good validity at age 1.5 years. For ages 3.5 and 5.0 years, the FFQ showed good validity for individual-level tests only. The FFQ provided stronger validity in the ranking of individuals according to free sugars intake than comparing absolute free sugars intake at group level.

Keywords: food frequency questionnaire; free sugars; early childhood; validation; dietary assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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