Accuracy of self-reports of food intake.

Six boys reported their food intake with a surprising degree of accuracy, although they tended to overestimate at low levels and underestimate at high levels. Stimulated by this finding, the authors reviewed the literature and found six validated self-reports of food intake among adults and five among children. Most studies were small, but they reported similar findings. Because of the important policy implications, research is needed with larger and more representative samples to determine if self-reports of food intake are as accurate as they seem.