Nutrition Labeling Program to Promote Healthy Dietary Patterns

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Nutrition; Diet
• Interventions: Other: nutrition label

• Registration Number: NCT01249508
• Lead Sponsor: University Ghent

Brief Summary

This study aims to evaluate a nutrition labelling program in improving university canteen customers' dietary pattern and behavioural determinants (e.g. knowledge).

Detailed Description

The increase in diet related diseases worldwide is considered to be primarily caused by a changing environment encouraging high energy intakes and a sedentary lifestyle. Examples of important environmental factors are the changing nature of the food supply, the changing socio-demographic structure of the population, the lack of nutrition information and the increasing reliance on foods consumed away from home. This evolution has driven the development of measures to encourage more healthy eating patterns. Nutrition labelling is one of those measures. Since adults and students spend approximately half their waking hours at the workplace or university, the work or study environment is believed to be an appropriate setting to assess and try to change individuals' dietary behaviour. This study aims to evaluate a nutrition labelling program in improving university canteen customers' dietary pattern and behavioural determinants (e.g. knowledge).

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2008-10
• Primary Completion: 2009-05
• Study Completion: 2009-05
• Study First Submitted: 2010-11-25
• Study First Submitted QC: 2010-11-26
• Study First Posted: 2010-11-29
• Status Verified: 2010-12
• Last Update Submitted: 2010-12-21
• Last Update Posted: 2010-12-22

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 474

Inclusion Criteria

• university students and staff
• frequent university canteen customers
• willing to participate

Exclusion Criteria

• non-frequent university canteen customers

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
implemented nutrition label	nutrition label	A one-group pre-/post-design is used for the evaluation of the university canteen-based nutrition labeling program. This means that all participants of the program are exposed to the nutrition label implemented in the university canteen. The subject essentially serves as its own control based on pre-test behaviour. The nutrition label implemented is a star rating label calculated and assigned to each meal offered at the university canteens and based on the content of energy, saturated fat, sodium and fibre (expressed as vegetable portion).

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
pre-label behavioural determinants of nutrition	at 1 month	Behavioural determinants of nutrition by means of quantitative questionnaire at pre-labeling implementation phase (at 1 month).
pre-label nutrition information processing characteristics	at 1 month	Nutrition information processing by means of quantitative questionnaire at pre-labeling implementation phase (at 1 month).
post-label behavioural determinants of nutrition	at 6 months	Behavioural determinants of nutrition by means of quantitative questionnaire at post-labeling implementation phase (at 6 months).
post-label nutrition information processing characteristics	at 6 months	Nutrition information processing by means of quantitative questionnaire at post-labeling implementation phase (at 6 months).
pre-label food intake records	at 1 month	Food intake by 3-day food records at pre-labeling implementation phase (at 1 month).
post-label food intake records	at 6 months	Food intake by 3-day food records at post-labeling implementation phase (at 6 months).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
socio-demographic questionnaire	at 1 month	Socio-demographical questionnaire at pre-labeling implementation phase (at 1 month).
pre-label physical activity registration	at 1 month	Physical activity by 3-day physical activity registrations at pre-labeling implementation phase (at 1 month).
post-label physical activity registration	at 6 months	Physical activity by 3-day physical activity registrations at post-labeling implementation phase (at 6 months).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University Ghent; 🇧🇪 Ghent, Belgium