Do Dietitians Accurately Report Their Food Intake?

It is a well established scientific fact that people, on average, do not accurately report or record their food intake. In fact, most people tend to underreport the amount of calories they eat. The degree of underreporting can systematically vary based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, weight, income, education, gender, and various psychological characteristics. The degree of underreporting can be quite severe. One study comparing obese twins to their non-obese twin counterparts indicated underreporting of 764 calories per day. Another study found certain individuals to be underreporting their food intake by over 2000 calories per day. Underreporting is also quite entrenched. In fact, paying people doesn't help them report their intake more accurately, and people will still underreport even when they know their calorie intake can be verified.