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Frequent Nutritional Feedback, Personalized Advice, and Behavioral Changes: Findings from the European Food4Me Internet-Based RCT.
Celis-Morales, C, Livingstone, KM, Petermann-Rocha, F, Navas-Carretero, S, San-Cristobal, R, O'Donovan, CB, Moschonis, G, Manios, Y, Traczyk, I, Drevon, CA, et al
American journal of preventive medicine. 2019;(2):209-219
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This study tested the hypothesis that providing personalized nutritional advice and feedback more frequently would promote larger, more appropriate, and sustained changes in dietary behavior as well as greater reduction in adiposity. STUDY DESIGN A 6-month RCT (Food4Me) was conducted in seven European countries between 2012 and 2013. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS A total of 1,125 participants were randomized to Lower- (n=562) or Higher- (n=563) Frequency Feedback groups. INTERVENTION Participants in the Lower-Frequency group received personalized nutritional advice at baseline and at Months 3 and 6 of the intervention, whereas the Higher-Frequency group received personalized nutritional advice at baseline and at Months 1, 2, 3 and 6. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcomes were change in dietary intake (at food and nutrient levels) and obesity-related traits (body weight, BMI, and waist circumference). Participants completed an online Food Frequency Questionnaire to estimate usual dietary intake at baseline and at Months 3 and 6 of the intervention. Overall diet quality was evaluated using the 2010 Healthy Eating Index. Obesity-related traits were self-measured and reported by participants via the Internet. Statistical analyses were performed during the first quarter of 2018. RESULTS At 3 months, participants in the Lower- and Higher-Frequency Feedback groups showed improvements in Healthy Eating Index score; this improvement was larger in the Higher-Frequency group than the Lower-Frequency group (Δ=1.84 points, 95% CI=0.79, 2.89, p=0.0001). Similarly, there were greater improvements for the Higher- versus Lower-Frequency group for body weight (Δ= -0.73 kg, 95% CI= -1.07, -0.38, p<0.0001), BMI (Δ= -0.24 kg/m2, 95% CI= -0.36, -0.13, p<0.0001), and waist circumference (Δ= -1.20 cm, 95% CI= -2.36, -0.04, p=0.039). However, only body weight and BMI remained significant at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS At 3 months, higher-frequency feedback produced larger improvements in overall diet quality as well as in body weight and waist circumference than lower-frequency feedback. However, only body weight and BMI remained significant at 6 months. TRIAL REGISTRATION This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT01530139.
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Mediators of the effectiveness of a kindergarten-based, family-involved intervention on pre-schoolers' snacking behaviour: the ToyBox-study.
Lambrinou, CP, van Stralen, MM, Androutsos, O, Cardon, G, De Craemer, M, Iotova, V, Socha, P, Koletzko, B, Moreno, LA, Manios, Y
Public health nutrition. 2019;(1):157-163
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE The present study aimed to explore the mediating role of family-related determinants on the effects of the ToyBox-intervention on pre-school children's consumption of healthy and unhealthy snacks. DESIGN The ToyBox-intervention was a kindergarten-based, family-involved intervention with a cluster-randomized design, aiming to promote healthy lifestyle behaviours to prevent obesity at pre-school age. SETTING Kindergartens (n 309) in six European countries. SUBJECTS A total of 6290 pre-schoolers and their families participated in the ToyBox-intervention in 2012-2013 and data from 5212 pre-schoolers/families were included in the current analyses. RESULTS Even though the total effect of the ToyBox-intervention on healthy and unhealthy snacking was not significant, the ToyBox-intervention significantly improved parental rule setting on children's unhealthy snack consumption (i.e. restriction of snacking while watching television and permission only at certain occasions) and parental consumption of unhealthy snacks, while it increased parental knowledge on snacking recommendations. Regarding healthy snacking, the ToyBox-intervention improved children's attitude towards fruit and vegetables (F&V). All previously mentioned family-related determinants mediated the intervention effects on pre-schoolers' consumption of healthy and unhealthy snacks. Almost all family-related determinants examined in the study were independently associated with pre-schoolers' consumption of healthy and unhealthy snacks. CONCLUSIONS The intervention was effective in improving relevant family-related determinants. Interventions aiming to promote F&V consumption and limit the consumption of unhealthy snacks in pre-schoolers should target on these mediators, but also identify new family-, school- or peer-related determinants, to enhance their effectiveness.