Virtual nutrition and cooking program to improve diet and social engagement for older Veterans with impaired mobility.
Official title: Improving Dietary Quality and Social Engagement Through a Virtual Nutrition and Teaching Kitchen Intervention Among Older Veterans With Impaired Mobility
Run by VA Office of Research and Development · NCT06726083 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial will test whether a three-month virtual group nutrition program with produce delivery and cooking demonstrations can improve diet, quality of life, and muscle strength in Veterans over 65 with impaired mobility.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 65 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 180 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | VA Office of Research and Development Federal |
| Locations | 1 site (Baltimore, Maryland) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | March 31, 2026 |
| Main results expected | March 31, 2030 |
| Study ends | March 31, 2030 |
| Registry record updated | April 7, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06726083 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are Veterans aged 65 or older with impaired mobility (e.g., gait speed <1.0 m/s or elevated four-square-step test) who use an assistive device and report a desire to improve their eating habits.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with uncontrolled diabetes (HbA1c >10), on renal replacement therapy, with dementia, severe behavioral issues that preclude group participation, or already enrolled in a diet/weight-loss program are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This randomized controlled trial will compare a 3-month virtual group nutrition intervention paired with home produce delivery and virtual teaching-kitchen cooking demonstrations against a contact-control condition. The program is tailored for older Veterans with impaired mobility and delivered remotely in group sessions to combine education, social support, and practical cooking skills. Primary outcomes include diet quality, health-related quality of life, and measures of muscle strength and functional mobility. Eligible participants are Veterans aged over 65 with reduced gait speed or elevated four-square-step test who use an assistive device and who want to improve their eating habits, while those with uncontrolled diabetes, dialysis dependence, dementia, or current participation in diet/weight-loss programs are excluded.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could improve dietary quality, increase muscle strength, and help delay further mobility decline, supporting greater independence.
How similar studies have gone: In-person nutrition education and teaching-kitchen programs have improved dietary intake and social engagement in older adults, while fully virtual approaches for mobility-limited seniors are less studied but show promising early results.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Veterans \>65 years with reduced gait speed (gait speed \<1.0 m/s) or elevated four square step test * use of an assistive device who also indicate that they would like to improve their eating habits, defined by response of \<3 on a scale of 1 to 5 to the question, 'Do you consider your eating habits to be healthy' Exclusion Criteria: * Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (HbA1c \>10) or Current renal replacement therapy (e.g. dialysis) * Other medical condition precluding patient participation in this study as per medical judgment of study team * dementia as self-reported or found on medical record review * currently participating in a diet or weight loss intervention * Volatile behavior issues or unable to work successfully in a group environment/setting
Where it's running
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Baltimore VA Medical Center VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, MD
Baltimore, Maryland, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Elizabeth A Parker, PhD RD — Baltimore VA Medical Center VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, MD
- Study coordinator: Jeffrey P Beans, BS
- Email: jeffrey.beans@va.gov
- Phone: (410) 605-7000
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.