Research paper
Lichtman SW, Pisarska K, Berman ER, Pestone M, Dowling H, Offenbacher E, Weisel H, Heshka S, Matthews DE, Heymsfield SB. Discrepancy between self-reported and actual caloric intake and exercise in obese subjects. N Engl J Med. 1992 Dec 31;327(27):1893-8. doi:10.1056/NEJM199212313272701. PMID: 1454084.
Why we cite it
A study of 10 self-described diet-resistant obese patients (from 224 consecutive obese patients) showing that they underreported their food intake by 47 ± 16% and overreported physical activity by 51 ± 75%. Their energy expenditure and resting metabolic rate were within 5% of predicted, and ”Low energy expenditure was thus excluded as a mechanism of self-reported diet resistance”. (Corrected 2026-09-19 from ”The landmark doubly-labeled-water study”. Landmark is a ranking. Doubly-labeled-water is the restatement’s; the published abstract says expenditure was evaluated ”by indirect calorimetry and analysis of body composition”, and the full text is not held to settle the method.) Foundational to the project’s work on calorie underreporting and self-deception in eating behavior.
DOI: 10.1056/NEJM199212313272701 · PubMed 1454084 · Publisher