The Effects of External Cues Versus Internal Cues Messaging on Heart Rate Variability and Affect

University of Delaware

Status: Completed

Conditions: Nutrition Therapy; Affect; Dietetics; Autonomic Nervous System; Diet, Healthy

Treatments: Other: Internal Cues Nutrition Messaging; Other: External Cues Nutrition Messaging

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05309941

1846581

Details and patient eligibility

About

This randomized controlled trial will assess the effects of External Cues focused messaging (i.e., government recommendations of MyPlate) compared to Internal Cues focused messaging (i.e., intuitive eating). The investigators will collect data on within-person changes in psychological (e.g. affect) and physiological (e.g. heart rate variability) outcomes in female college students.

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two study conditions. In condition one, participants will view a five-minute video focusing on traditional nutrition education principles. In condition two, participants will view a five-minute video focusing on intuitive eating principles.

Enrollment: 300 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 29 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 18-29 years old
• identify as female
• college student

Exclusion criteria

• outside of the age range of 18-29 years
• do not self-identify as female
• not able to attend an in-person study visit at the University of Delaware

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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300 participants in 2 patient groups

Internal Cues Messaging

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will view a five-minute video focusing on intuitive eating principles.

Treatment:

Other: Internal Cues Nutrition Messaging

External Cues Messaging

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants will view a five-minute video focusing on traditional nutrition education principles.

Treatment:

Other: External Cues Nutrition Messaging