Food Screeners for Adolescents: A Hybrid Review Focused on Their Psychometric Properties

Abstract

Food screeners are a low-cost, low-burden option for nutrition surveillance, but their number and variability complicate tool selection for adolescents. This review aimed to describe food screeners used among adolescents in high-income countries and evaluate their validity and reliability. A hybrid approach was used: a scoping review to identify existing screeners and a systematic review to assess psychometric quality. Screeners with ≤30 items targeting healthy adolescents aged 10-17 years were eligible. Forty-seven screeners were identified through both searches. Instruments averaged 16 items with 22 including portion size questions, and 26 assessing alignment to dietary guidelines. Twenty-six screeners had psychometric evidence, and 18 met quality criteria. Construct (convergent) validity was most frequently examined, with most estimates falling in the poor-moderate range, whereas reliability was generally stronger, with most instruments demonstrating acceptable test-retest performance. Findings highlight substantial variability and key gaps in adolescent food screener evaluation.