Behavior and habits
C · Interpret with cautionWhich behaviour-change approaches help young adults eat better
Subject: Behaviour-change techniques for better nutrition intake
What this means
Behavioural programmes increased fruit and vegetable intake by 68.6 g per day after three months. Total energy intake showed no difference.
Ashton LM, Sharkey T, Whatnall MC, Williams RL, Bezzina A, Aguiar EJ, Collins CE, Hutchesson MJ · 2019 · Nutrients 11(4):825
What does this rating mean?
Limited, mixed or hard-to-translate evidence. Useful as direction, not as a rule.
Findings
Which behaviour-change techniques are associated with healthier eating. The counterpart to the study on techniques for more physical activity.
Who this applies to
Young adults aged 17 to 35.
Size of the research
54 randomised trials; 17 of them were pooled for fruit and vegetables.
What to keep in mind
Too few studies per technique to tell which techniques are essential. Evidence for other dietary outcomes was less convincing.
Practical conclusion for REZA
Same caveat as the companion study: useful cues for nutrition behaviour change, but not directly transferable to REZA's typically older clients.
View method and source
Methodology
Systematic review with meta-analysis of RCTs
Limitations
The population studied is considerably younger than REZA's target group. Translating the findings to people in their forties and older isn't straightforward.
Original source
DOI: 10.3390/nu11040825 · PMID: 30979065
View on PubMed →This information is general education about scientific research. It is not personal medical advice and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a doctor or other healthcare professional. If you have symptoms, a medical condition or take medication, consult your GP or treating professional before changing your training or nutrition.