Final answer:
A downside of 24-hour dietary recall is the reliance on individual memory and potential bias in reporting.
Step-by-step explanation:
A downside of 24-hour dietary recall (food tracking) is that it relies on the individual's ability to accurately recall and report everything they ate in the past 24 hours. People may forget certain foods or underestimate portion sizes, leading to incomplete or inaccurate data. Additionally, self-reporting can be influenced by social desirability bias, where individuals may underreport unhealthy or indulgent food choices.
Example: If someone had a slice of cake for dessert but felt guilty about it, they may not include it in their food diary. This can skew the data and give an incomplete picture of their actual dietary intake.
In summary, while 24-hour dietary recall can provide valuable information, it has limitations due to reliance on memory, potential inaccuracies, and bias.