Healthy Lifestyle
Conditions
Keywords
Menus of Change, Arterial stiffness
Brief summary
The goal of this cross-sectional study is to investigate the health benefits of the Menus of Change in undergraduate university students, by comparing 2 groups: Students eating in the Menus of change catered halls, versus students eating outside the Menus of change meal plan. The main question it aims to answer is: What are the effects of the menus of change on other vascular outcomes, namely blood pressure? What are the effects of the menus of change on other health markers?
Detailed description
The Menus of Change (MoC) is an example of behaviour change that was created by The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) and Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. This initiative is based on a set of around 24 core principles, mainly promoting and serving 'healthy, sustainable, and delicious' food in restaurants and foodservice operations. The University of Reading has successfully implemented the MoC across the campus and in students' accommodations. However, MoC is not implemented across all campus halls. To date, most of the studies performed in relation to the MoC had explored techniques to encourage students towards healthier, more sustainable diets. Very little research focuses on the associated health outcomes and hence the impact on health of the eating pattern laid out in the MoC principles. Therefore, this project aims to investigate the health impact of the menu of change on university students, by comparing 2 groups: students eating in MoC catered halls, following the meal plan provided by the university food services, versus students who do not follow the menus of change meal plan. The primary aim will be to investigate the effect of the MoC on vascular outcomes, namely arterial stiffness, a particularly important tool in younger adults with low-moderate cardiovascular disease risk. Secondary aims will be to investigate other vascular outcomes, namely blood pressure changes, as well as looking at other health markers, such as full blood count, lipid profile, sugar levels, liver and kidney function, and CVD related inflammatory markers. In addition, the study aims to look at the impact of the MoC on stress and anxiety levels and the differences in students' attainment between groups.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
University of Reading
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 25 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Adults * Home students living in university halls * Undergraduates * Can understand participant information sheet and willing to comply with the study design
Exclusion criteria
* International students * postgraduates * living outside the university halls * participating in other studies
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Arterial stiffness | up to 2 weeks after completing a 3-day food diary | Arterial stiffness will be measured using Mobil-O-Graph to assess the cardiovascular risk in participants |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Glucose levels | up to 2 weeks after completing a 3-day food diary | by comparing levels between both groups |
| Kidney profile | up to 2 weeks after completing a 3-day food diary | kidney profile levels to be compared between both groups |
| SCFA levels | up to 2 weeks after completing a 3-day food diary | short chain fatty acids levels to be compared between both groups |
| Cardiovascular disease related inflammatory biomarkers | up to 2 weeks after completing a 3-day food diary | Levels to be compared between both groups |
| Full blood count | up to 2 weeks after completing a 3-day food diary | Full blood count levels will be compared between both groups |
| Lipid profile | up to 2 weeks after completing a 3-day food diary | Lipid profile levels will be compared between both groups |
| liver profile | up to 2 weeks after completing a 3-day food diary | comparing liver profile levels between both groups |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Urine dietary biomarkers level | 24-hours before the study visit | by 24-hours urine sample |
| Depression and anxiety survey | up to 2 weeks before the study visit | Beck's depression survey, STAI 1 and PANAS |
| Academic attainment | By the end of academic year | To assess the relationship between healthy diet and academic results |
Contacts
Primary ContactCharlotte Mills, PhD
Backup ContactYoumna Hussein, PharmD, MSc
Outcome results
None listed