Lorentz Salvesen

• Øverby, Nina Cecilie; Medin, Anine Christine; Valen, Erlend Nuland; Salvesen, Lorentz; Vik, Frøydis Nordgård & Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord (2026). Lessons learned from digital dietary interventions targeting the preconception population. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. ISSN 0029-6651. doi: 10.1017/S0029665126102286. Full text in Research Archive
• Valen, Erlend Nuland; Wills, Andrew Keith; Medin, Anine Christine; Vik, Frøydis Nordgård; Engeset, Dagrun & Salvesen, Lorentz [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2026). Effect of a digital dietary intervention on diet quality in young adults in Norway – The PREPARED randomised controlled trial. BMC Nutrition. 12. doi: 10.1186/s40795-026-01278-4. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Nutritional status and lifestyle during the preconception phase, the months and years before conception, may have substantial impact on the health of the next generation. Diet quality during these years has been a neglected in previous dietary assessments. Methods The PREPARED study is a digital intervention with a randomised controlled trial design with the aim to assess its effectiveness on diet quality and micronutrient adequacy. Individuals with a Norwegian identification number without biological children aged 20–35 were recruited using social media platforms. Data was collected digitally using a dietary screener which was recoded into a diet quality score (DQS) and a 24-hour recall recoded into binary variables to compare adherence to the average requirement defined by the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023. The intervention group received access to a digital resource where all components were created using the Determinants of Nutrition and Eating framework (DONE), with new weekly content across 6 months. Results From the total sample of 1374, the follow-up sample consisted of 186 participants (13.5%) (Control: 99, Intervention: 87) on DQS, and 150 (10.9%) on micronutrient adequacy. The mean difference between intervention and control in total diet quality score was + 1.0 (IQR − 3.0, 4.9) (adjusted p = 0.63). The results showed no improvement in diet quality or change in proportion of participants reaching average requirements between the intervention and control group. Conclusions We found no evidence towards having a healthier diet in any of the groups at the end of the trial, and there were no differences in proportions reaching average requirement for selected micronutrients. The substantial loss to follow-up might have had a significant impact on the results. Improving or developing strategies for recruitment and keeping retention rates is an important area for future intervention studies.

• Salvesen, Lorentz; Wills, Andrew Keith; Øverby, Nina Cecilie; Engeset, Dagrun & Medin, Anine Christine (2023). Relative validity of a non-quantitative 33-item dietary screener with a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire among young adults. Journal of Nutritional Science (JNS). 12, p. 1–13. doi: 10.1017/jns.2023.57. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The objective of the study was to assess the concordance and ranking ability of a non-quantitative 33-item dietary screener developed to assess the diet of young adults in Norway, ‘MyFoodMonth 1.1’, compared to a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Data were collected in a cross-sectional dietary survey evaluating the diets of students at the University of Agder, in southern Norway. The students were asked to complete both a dietary screener and an FFQ. Data collection was carried out from September to December 2020. Participants were first-year university students aged ≥18 years familiar with Scandinavian language. Almost half of the eligible sample (n 344) was excluded due to not completing the FFQ, compared to 1⋅7 % not completing the dietary screener, resulting in 172 (66 % female) participants with a median age of 21 years. For most items of the dietary screener (n 27/33, 82 %), all aspects of diet quality and components of the Diet Quality Score showed moderate-to-strong concordance with the FFQ evaluated using Kendall's tau-b analyses (t > 0⋅31), supported by visual inspection of box and whisker plots and descriptive ranking ability in a cross-tabulation. There was little evidence to suggest that concordance was dependent on sex. The concordance and ranking ability of ‘MyFoodMonth 1.1’ is considered satisfactory compared to a semi-quantitative FFQ. This rapid dietary assessment instrument presents a valuable addition to traditional instruments and a possible solution to recruit hard-to-reach parts of the population.

• Valen, Erlend Larsen; Grasaas, Erik; Engeset, Dagrun; Salvesen, Lorentz; Skeie, Guri & Øverby, Nina Cecilie [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2023). Myfood24 på norsk: et selvadministrert digitalt 24-timers kostintervju. Norsk tidsskrift for ernæring (NTFE). ISSN 1503-5034. 21(2), p. 13–22. doi: 10.18261/ntfe.21.2.3. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Innen ernæringsepidemiologien er vi i stor grad avhengige av å estimere inntak av mat og næringsstoffer basert på selvrapportering, til tross for at denne tilnærmingen er beheftet med målefeil. Graden av målefeil har betydning for analyser og tolkning av resultater, så metodene vi bruker bør være så valide som mulig. Å utvikle brukervennlige kostholdsmetoder som reduserer belastning for deltaker kan være et viktig bidrag til mer nøyaktig rapportering, samtidig som tids- og ressursbruken begrenses. Det digitale kostholdsverktøyet myfood24, opprinnelig utviklet ved Universitetet i Leeds, kan enten brukes som et selvadministrert 24-timers kostintervju, eller matdagbok. Verktøyet har de siste årene blitt oversatt og kulturelt tilpasset til flere land, både i og utenfor Europa, og har blitt validert i en rekke ulike aldersgrupper. I 2019 startet arbeidet med å lage en norsk versjon av myfood24. Det er allerede gjennomført en valideringsstudie av bilder av porsjonsstørrelser som inngår i den norske versjonen, og det planlegges å validere verktøyet ytterligere. Hensikten med denne artikkelen er å beskrive utviklingsarbeidet som er gjort. Målet er at norske myfood24 også skal kunne brukes av andre norske forskere, og med denne artikkelen ønsker vi å gjøre informasjon om verktøyet tilgjengelig.

• Valen, Erlend Nuland; Øverby, Nina Cecilie; Hardy-Johnson, Polly; Vik, Frøydis Nordgård; Salvesen, Lorentz & Omholt, Mona Linge [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2023). Lessons learned from talking with adults about nutrition: A qualitative study in the PREPARED project. Maternal & Child Nutrition. ISSN 1740-8695. 20(S2). doi: 10.1111/mcn.13540. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Improving diet and dietary behaviour of men and women before pregnancy has thepotential to benefit both their current and long‐term health and the health of theirchildren. Little is known, however, about adults' perception of diet's role inprepregnancy health. This study aimed to explore the state of knowledge andawareness of preconception nutritional health in adults within the fertile age rangeand what they perceived could motivate healthy eating using the self‐determinationtheory as a theoretical framework. We analysed 33 short exploratory interviewswith men (n= 18) and women (n= 15) aged 18–45 years. Participants were grabsampled from three different public locations in the southern part of Norway.Interviews were audio‐recorded, transcribed verbatim in 2020 and analysed using athematic analysis with a semantic approach in 2022. The findings suggest that adultswithin the fertile age range are not intrinsically motivated to eat healthily, but whenthey do, it is because eating healthily often aligns with other goals consistent withtheir values, that is, getting fit or looking good. They possess some basic knowledgeof healthy behaviours during pregnancy but are generally unaware of the importanceof preconception health and nutrition. There is a need to increase awareness ofthe impact of preconception health on the health of this and future generations.Improved nutritional education on the significance of diet before conception mightfacilitate optimal conditions for conceiving and for pregnancy in the adult populationwithin fertile age range.

• Salvesen, Lorentz; Valen, Erlend Larsen; Wills, Andrew Keith; Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord; Vik, Frøydis Nordgård & Engeset, Dagrun [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2023). Developmental origins of health and disease knowledge is associated with diet quality in preconception young adult men and women. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease. ISSN 2040-1744. 15(5). doi: 10.1017/S2040174423000314. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) approach supports that nutritional exposures in early life affect an individual’s later health and risk of disease. Dietary exposure during the preconception period may also influence individual, and inter- and transgenerational health and disease risk, in both men and women. This study aimed to describe knowledge of the DOHaD approach (DOHaDKNOWLEDGE) and diet quality in preconception young adults in Norway, to assess associations between DOHaDKNOWLEDGE and a Diet Quality Score (DQS), and to assess gender differences in those above. Data from 1362 preconception young adults was obtained from the PREPARED study baseline dataset. The sample had 88% women participants, a mean age of 27 years, 36% had overweight or obesity, and 77% had higher level of education. DOHaDKNOWLEDGE was assessed by the participants’ agreement to five statements using a Likert scale. Diet quality was assessed using aspects of diet quality and a DQS derived from a dietary screener. We found moderate level of both DOHaDKNOWLEDGE (12/20 points) and diet quality (DQS: 60/100 points), indicating potential for improvements. Specifically, the greatest potential for diet quality improvements were observed for sugary foods, red and processed meats, legumes, and unsalted nuts and seeds. Gender differences were observed for both DOHaDKNOWLEDGE and diet quality. DOHaDKNOWLEDGE was positively associated with DQS, adjusted for sociodemographic factors, with little evidence of an interaction effect by gender. This study indicates that knowledge of the DOHaD approach is positively associated with diet quality in preconception young men and women. Future studies should consider incorporating pregnancy intentions, relationship status, and health literacy.

• Øverby, Nina Cecilie; Medin, Anine Christine; Valen, Erlend Larsen; Salvesen, Lorentz; Wills, Andrew Keith & Engeset, Dagrun [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2021). Effectiveness of a digital dietary intervention program targeting young adults before parenthood: protocol for the PREPARED randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 11(12). doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055116. Full text in Research Archive
• Salvesen, Lorentz; Engeset, Dagrun; Øverby, Nina Cecilie & Medin, Anine Christine (2021). Development and evaluation of image-series for portion size estimation in dietary assessment among adults. Journal of Nutritional Science (JNS). 10. doi: 10.1017/jns.2020.58. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Portion size images are advantageous in dietary assessment. The aim of the present study was to develop and validate new culturally specific image-series for portion size estimation to be used in a new Norwegian version of a British web-based dietary assessment tool (myfood24). Twenty-three image-series of different foods, each containing seven portion size images, were created and validated in a group of adults (n 41, 58 % female) aged 19–44 (median 23), out of which 63 % had higher (tertiary) education. The participants compared 46 portions of pre-weighed foods to the portion size images (1886 comparisons in total). Portion size estimations were either classified as correct, adjacent or misclassified. The weight discrepancy in percentage between the chosen and the correct portion size image was also calculated. Mann–Whitney U tests were used to explore if portion size estimation accuracy differed across sample characteristics, or if it depended on how the foods were presented. For thirty-eight of the forty-six presented food items, the participants selected the correct or adjacent portion size image 98 % on average. The remaining eight food items were on average misclassified by 27 % of the participants. Overall, a mean weight discrepancy of 2⋅5 % was observed between the chosen and the correct portion size images. Females estimated portion size more accurately than males (P = 0⋅019). No other significant differences in estimation accuracy were observed. In conclusion, the new image-series performed satisfactorily, except for the image-series depicting bread, caviar spread and marzipan cake, which will be altered. The present study demonstrates the importance of validating portion size estimation tools.

• Salvesen, Lorentz; Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord; Vik, Frøydis Nordgård; Brantsæter, Anne Lise & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2019). Reproducibility and relative validity of a newly developed web-based food-frequency questionnaire for assessment of preconception diet. BMC Nutrition. 5. doi: 10.1186/s40795-019-0310-y. Full text in Research Archive

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• Nordli, Julie; Salvesen, Lorentz & Omholt, Mona Linge (2026). Kjenner du "potet"ensialet? Mat og helse i skolen. ISSN 1890-3193. p. 14–16. Full text in Research Archive
• Valand, Ida Ulrikke; Valen, Erlend Larsen & Salvesen, Lorentz (2023). Skills for life-podden, episode 4: Hæ, før barnet blir født? Prepared og preconception diet. [Internet]. Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Doktorgradsstipendiatene Erlend Valen og Lorentz Salvesen presenterer forskningen sin, og vi snakker om hvordan kosthold før man blir foreldre påvirker det fremtidige barnets helse.

• Salvesen, Lorentz (2022). Comparative validity of a 33-item dietary screener with a comprehensive food-frequency questionnaire among young adults. Full text in Research Archive
• Salvesen, Lorentz (2021). An evaluation study of food portions size photographs for use in a web-based 24-hour dietary recall system (myfood24) for Norway. Full text in Research Archive
• Medin, Anine Christine; Valen, Erlend Nuland & Salvesen, Lorentz (2021). Photographs of foods - Experiences from adapting a British web-based dietary assessment tool (myfood24) for Norway. Full text in Research Archive
• Salvesen, Lorentz; Hillesund, Elisabet Rudjord; Vik, Frøydis Nordgård & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (2019). Kostholdets betydning før man blir foreldre (preconception). In Engeset, Dagrun; Torheim, Liv Elin & Øverby, Nina Cecilie (Ed.), Samfunnsernæring. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 9788215030630. p. 78–80. Full text in Research Archive
• Salvesen, Lorentz (2024). Initiating the PREPARED project : a digital dietary intervention for preconception young adults – protocol development, validation of dietary methods, and DOHaD knowledge-diet quality insights. Universitetet i Agder. ISSN 9788284271682. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) theory suggests that environmental exposures during critical developmental periods can profoundly affect long-term health and disease risk of both the individual and subsequent generations. Within the theory of DOHaD, maintaining a healthy diet offers a triple dividend in health, encompassing short- and long-term health of the individual and potential benefits for future generations. An individual’s diet and nutrition before conceiving a child is commonly referred to as preconception nutrition. Adopting a public health perspective on preconception nutrition is essential for promoting a healthier future, as it sets the foundation for long-term health and lifestyle behaviours that can significantly influence the prospect of future offspring health. Aims and objectives The current thesis aimed to plan and establish the basis for the PREPARED project, with a specific emphasis on validating dietary assessment methods to be utilized throughout the entire project, while also conducting a specific analysis of DOHaD knowledge and diet quality on the baseline data. This was to be accomplished through four specific objectives: (a) develop a study protocol outlining the research process for the PREPARED project, (b) develop digital food item image-series to aid portion size estimation accuracy in a 24-hour dietary recall system to be used in PREPARED project, and validate their accuracy by comparing them with pre-weighed food portions, (c) validate a dietary screener against a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for rapid dietary assessment in the PREPARED project, and (d) assess preconception young adults’ DOHaD knowledge and diet quality, and the association between the two, using the baseline data from the PREPARED study.

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