An Environmental Intervention to Encourage Healthy Food Choices

United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine

Status: Completed

Conditions: Dietary Habits; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice

Treatments: Other: Healthy meal plates and trays

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other U.S. Federal agency

Identifiers

NCT01921153

13-14H

Details and patient eligibility

About

The primary objective of this study is to test effectiveness of an environmental intervention designed to encourage healthy food intake during meals. It is hypothesized that fruit, vegetable, whole grain, lean protein, and low-fat dairy consumption will increase during the intervention. It is also hypothesized that nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors will change as a result of the intervention. The findings from this study will provide insight into the applicability of this intervention in military dining facilities.

Full description

Previous studies attempting to increase consumption of healthy foods in military dining facilities have had mixed results, and alternative approaches need to be considered. The present intervention was designed with the results of previous studies in mind, and as such, does not focus on labeling only healthy food choices. Instead, the present intervention aims to encourage consumption of nutritionally well-balanced meals using an environmental cue in military dining facilities.

Enrollment: 39 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Military member or government civilian employee
• Normally eat in military dining facility at least 1 day per week.

Exclusion criteria

• N/A

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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39 participants in 2 patient groups

Short Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

All participants will be measured for (1) baseline, (2) two-week environmental intervention: Healthy meal plates and trays, and (3) withdraw of intervention.

Treatment:

Other: Healthy meal plates and trays

Long Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

All participants will be measured for (1) baseline, (2) four-week environmental intervention: Healthy meal plates and trays, and (3) withdraw of intervention.

Treatment:

Other: Healthy meal plates and trays