Development of a food frequency questionnaire for adults in a population-based sample in Cuiabá, Mid-Western Region of Brazil.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the design of a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) to be used in studies on food intake of adults from Cuiabá, Mato Grosso State, Brazil.

METHODS

A 24-hour dietary recall (24hR) was applied to a sub-sample of 104 men and women, randomly selected from a random population-based study sample. Based on the frequency of report and on the contribution to the intake of energy and nutrients in the 24hR, 81 food items and respective reference servings were selected to comprise the FFQ food list. Reference portions were defined based on the most reported portion sizes in the 24-hour dietary recalls. The FFQ list was associated to eight options of intake frequency.

RESULTS

Sugar, coffee, beans, rice, beef, bread, and soda were cited by at least 50% of the interviewed group and the latter four foods were the ones that most contributed to energy intake. There were no differences among men and women related to the foods that provided most macro and micronutrients.

CONCLUSION

The FFQ included the most relevant food items involved in the food habits of the adult population from Cuiabá, Mato Grosso. Once the validity and reproducibility of this tool are proven, it will be useful in epidemiologic and clinical investigations on the role of diet on disease development in the target population.