What is the Eating at America's Table Study (EATS)?

EATS is a study that was designed to validate the Diet History Questionnaire (DHQ), a new and improved food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) developed by NCI staff. The study was novel in that it examined not only the DHQ, but also two other widely used FFQs. In addition, within the overall EATS study, investigators evaluated the validity of two new short dietary assessment instruments developed by NCI staff. These instruments, also called "short screeners," are designed to measure usual fruit and vegetable intake (see Fruit and Vegetable Intake Screeners). One screener, the "All-Day Screener," asks about consumption across the whole day. The other screener, the "By-Meal Screener," asks about consumption for three discrete time periods.

The study was conducted from August 1997 to June 1999, and included a nationally representative sample of 1,640 men and women, aged 20-70.

Subar AF, Thompson FE, Kipnis V, Midthune D, Hurwitz P, McNutt S, McIntosh A, Rosenfeld S. Comparative Validation of the Block, Willett, and National Cancer Institute Food Frequency Questionnaires: The Eating at America's Table Study. Am J Epidemiol 2001;154:1089-99. [View Summary]