Dietary Habits, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Conditions
Brief summary
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.
Detailed 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.
Interventions
OTHERHealthy meal plates and trays
The healthy meal plates and trays provide guidance for how to construct a meal in the military dining facility.
Sponsors
United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Military member or government civilian employee * Normally eat in military dining facility at least 1 day per week.
Exclusion criteria
* N/A
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in dietary intake | Participants will be followed for 6-12 weeks | Dietary intake will be assessed at lunches eaten in military dining facilities using the food photography method. The change in dietary intake from baseline to intervention will be assessed. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in nutrition knowledge | Measured at beginning and end of the 6-12 week study. | Nutrition knowledge specific to the intervention will be assessed with an experimenter-developed questionnaire. |
| Change in nutrition attitudes and behaviors (composite) | Measured at the beginning and end of the 6-12 week study. | Nutrition attitudes and behaviors will be measured with a single composite experimenter-developed questionnaire. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed