Abstract / Summary
Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to identify nutritional and sociodemographic factors associated with underreporting of energy intake among Brazilians in the 2017–2018 National Food Survey. Methods Data from individuals over 20 years of age were used, totaling 36.480 participants. Dietary intake data were collected through single 24-hour recall. Underreporters were identified using the Goldberg method revised by Black (2000). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as weight divided by height squared. Differences in macronutrient intake between underreporters and plausible reporters were examined with Wald’s F test. Factors associated with underreporting were analyzed using Poisson regression. Results The prevalence of underreporting energy intake was 30.5%. Excess weight (overweight and obesity), dieting practices, and socioeconomic conditions (middle and low income, and no formal education) were associated with a higher prevalence of this measurement error in food intake. Underreporters also had lower mean intakes of protein, total carbohydrates, total fat, and dietary fiber. Conclusions Underreporting should be addressed by nutritional epidemiology researchers, with biases associated with obesity/overweight and dieting being considered when interpreting food consumption data in national surveys.