Abstract

Background: Dietary assessment is important to give nutritional counseling, to monitor ongoing nutritional transition, and to initiate public health policies. However, dietary intake measurement is a challenge, as type of food, portion size, and food habits vary immensely.
Objective: The objective of the study was to compare 24 h recall and 3-day dietary cycle with 7-day dietary cycle as dietary assessment tool at community level in the rural part of Southern part of India.
Materials and Methods: It is a community-based cross-sectional study conducted in a rural community of H D Kote Taluk of Mysuru district. Fifty-five houses were selected randomly by lottery method. Medical social workers were trained and data were collected regarding dietary consumption from the households and analyzed using SPSS version 24.
Results: Descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation were used and inferential statistics such as one-way analysis of variance showed a significant difference in the recorded calorie intake by three methods of dietary assessment; f (2,) = 10.109, P < 0.00. Bonferroni post hoc revealed significant higher recordings by 24 h recall method (2422.56 ± 1581) compared to 3-day dietary cycle (1462.14 ± 761) and 7-day dietary cycle (1782.97 ± 682.6). No significant statistical difference was noted between 3-day dietary cycle and 7-day dietary cycle.Conclusion: Three-day dietary cycle method could replace 7-day dietary cycle method for community-based dietary assessment, as it provides results comparable to the gold standard 7-day dietary assessment method and it is less time consuming, cost effective and ensures better compliance.