Dietary Digital Diaries

Abstract

Obesogenic environments promote excessive caloric and fat intake. A total of 23 low-income, African American adolescents digitally photographed their lunchtime food environment at a school buffet during summer camp. Depicted food was coded for nutritional content on the platescape (own plate or others’ plates) and the tablescape (open buffet). Students digitally depicted high-caloric and high-fat content, particularly students who had higher baseline waist-to-hip ratio. Students who included higher caloric and fat content in their digital diaries gained more weight over the 4-week program than those who did not. Digital photography connects adolescents’ perceived food environment with weight gain, revealing the environmental cues that promote excessive caloric and fat intake. Digital photography can also identify adolescents with problematic eating behaviors that increase risk for obesity.