Personalised digital feedback to increase plant food (vegetable) intake

Supporting Increased Plant Food Intake Using Personalised Digital Feedback

This project will test whether an app that gives personalised dietary feedback and recipes can help adults who want to eat more vegetables increase their plant food intake.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 315 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 45 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Bath (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Bath, Somerset)
• Trial ID: NCT07478068 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This proof-of-concept interventional study compares an application that delivers personalised dietary feedback and recipe suggestions with a control condition to see if tailored digital content increases plant food consumption. Eligible adults who cook most main meals, own a smartphone and are willing to use a smartwatch will use the app and log meals daily. The study will track changes in vegetable and overall plant food intake alongside metrics of app engagement and retention. Results will inform whether personalised digital feedback can be a feasible route to improving dietary behaviours.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Healthy adults aged 18–45 who regularly cook most main meals, want to eat more vegetables, own an Android or iOS smartphone, and are willing to use a smartwatch and log meals daily are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People who already consume adequate amounts of vegetables, those unwilling to use an app or smartwatch, frequent travelers, or anyone enrolled in a conflicting nutrition/biomedical trial are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could help people who want to eat more vegetables by providing tailored advice and recipes that make it easier to change daily meals.

How similar studies have performed: Previous digital interventions and personalised dietary feedback have shown modest successes in changing eating behaviours, but evidence is limited on long-term engagement and on recipe-based personalised apps specifically.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Healthy males and females, age at start of the study ≥ 18 and ≤ 45 years;
* Non-rejectors of Knorr (due to the recipes in the PDP application);
* Currently cooking or intending to cook (\*themselves or partner) at least one main meal at home for at least five days a week;
* Indicated desire to eat more vegetables;
* In possession of an Android or iOS-based smartphone;
* Willing to use an app to receive information and log all meals daily;
* Currently using or willing to use a smartwatch;
* Able to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

* High reported baseline veg intake (participants need to self-report less than 50% of the UK rec / self-reported intake above the UK adult average (206 g/2.6 servings));
* Reported participation in another nutritional or biomedical trial within 1 month before the screening or during the study;
* Planned frequent travel (\>2/month) and travel to countries with time zone \>GMT +04:00 during the study period;
* Habitual consumption of \>14 units (female participants) and \>21 units (male participants) alcoholic drinks in a typical week;
* Reported start or change in use of any nicotine containing products directly preceding the study or during the study itself;
* If female, is pregnant (or has been pregnant during the last \<3 months) or will be planning pregnancy during the study period;
* If female, is lactating or has been lactating in the 6 weeks before screening and/or during the study period;
* Reported dietary habits: medically prescribed diet, slimming diet, any condition or self-prescribed diet that restricts consumption of vegetables, not used to eating at least 3 meals a day;
* Reported body mass loss/gain (\>5%) in the last 3 months before the study. Self-reported history of major depressive disorders and/or current use antidepressive/antianxiety medication;
* Clinically diagnosed sleep disorders and/or use prescribed sleep medication. Taking medication (including traditional medicines and or dietary supplements) which may pose undue personal risk or introduce bias into study measurements, as judged by the PI;
* An allergy to adhesives, which would prevent proper attachment of the CGM;
* Being an employee of any company developing personalised diet applications, including Salus Optima or Unilever.

Where this trial is running

Bath, Somerset

• Univeristy of Bath — Bath, Somerset, United Kingdom (Recruiting)

Conditions Plant Food Intake