Advancement in Dietary Assessment and Self-Monitoring Using Technology

Although methods to assess or self-monitor intake may be considered similar, the intended function of each is quite distinct. For the assessment of dietary intake, methods aim to measure food and nutrient intake and/or to derive dietary patterns for determining diet-disease relationships, population surveillance or the effectiveness of interventions. In comparison, dietary self-monitoring primarily aims to create awareness of and reinforce individual eating behaviours, in addition to tracking foods consumed. Advancements in the capabilities of technologies, such as smartphones and wearable devices, have enhanced the collection, analysis and interpretation of dietary intake data in both contexts. This Special Issue invites submissions on the use of novel technology-based approaches for the assessment of food and/or nutrient intake and for self-monitoring eating behaviours. Submissions may document any part of the development and evaluation of the technology-based approaches.

Examples may include:

• web adaption of existing dietary assessment or self-monitoring tools (e.g., food frequency questionnaires, screeners)
• image-based or image-assisted methods
• mobile/smartphone applications for capturing intake for assessment or self-monitoring
• wearable cameras to record dietary intake or eating behaviours
• body sensors to measure eating behaviours and/or dietary intake
• use of technology-based methods to complement aspects of traditional dietary assessment or self-monitoring, such as portion size estimation.