Feasibility and potential effect of a pilot blended digital behavior change intervention promoting sustainable diets over a year
Abstract Well-designed effective interventions promoting sustainable diets are urgently needed to benefit both human and planetary health. This study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and potential impact of a pilot blended digital intervention aimed at promoting sustainable diets. We conduc...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85307-5 |
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| author | Ujué Fresán Miguel López-Moreno Sergi Fàbregues Paquito Bernard Anna Boronat Vera Araújo-Soares Laura M. König Joren Buekers Guillaume Chevance |
| author_facet | Ujué Fresán Miguel López-Moreno Sergi Fàbregues Paquito Bernard Anna Boronat Vera Araújo-Soares Laura M. König Joren Buekers Guillaume Chevance |
| author_sort | Ujué Fresán |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Well-designed effective interventions promoting sustainable diets are urgently needed to benefit both human and planetary health. This study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and potential impact of a pilot blended digital intervention aimed at promoting sustainable diets. We conducted a series of ABA n-of-1 trials with baseline, intervention, and follow-up phases over the course of a year, involving twelve participants. The intervention included text messages, and individualized online feedback sessions. Quantitative data on diet composition was collected daily for 15 weeks distributed over the year. Qualitative data was collected through interviews at the end of each phase. Results showed high feasibility and acceptability: 100% retention rate, 75% attendance at all feedback sessions, and an average response rate of 86% to the dietary questionnaires. The intervention had a positive and significant effect on the overall diet composition. Specifically, 92% of the participants significantly increased their daily fruit and vegetable consumption, and 58% significantly reduced their intake of red and processed meat as well as ultra-processed foods. Participants also reported reducing food waste, choosing minimally packaged and in-season foods, and prioritizing fair-sourced food. The study demonstrates the potential of digital interventions to effectively promote sustainable dietary behaviors and offers insights for future large-scale implementations. Upcoming iterations should involve a more diverse population, particularly less motivated individuals and with more diverse socioeconomic status. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/41443 |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-56623596b6754d67a02a0dd6005f2e83 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-56623596b6754d67a02a0dd6005f2e832025-01-19T12:22:12ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111510.1038/s41598-025-85307-5Feasibility and potential effect of a pilot blended digital behavior change intervention promoting sustainable diets over a yearUjué Fresán0Miguel López-Moreno1Sergi Fàbregues2Paquito Bernard3Anna Boronat4Vera Araújo-Soares5Laura M. König6Joren Buekers7Guillaume Chevance8Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)Diet, Planetary Health and Performance, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Francisco de VitoriaDepartment of Psychology and Education, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)Department of Physical Activity Sciences, Université du Québec À MontréalIntegrative Pharmacology and Systems Neuroscience Research Group, Neuroscience Research Program, Hospital del Mar Research InstituteCenter for Preventive Medicine and Digital Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg UniversityFaculty of Psychology, University of ViennaBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)Abstract Well-designed effective interventions promoting sustainable diets are urgently needed to benefit both human and planetary health. This study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and potential impact of a pilot blended digital intervention aimed at promoting sustainable diets. We conducted a series of ABA n-of-1 trials with baseline, intervention, and follow-up phases over the course of a year, involving twelve participants. The intervention included text messages, and individualized online feedback sessions. Quantitative data on diet composition was collected daily for 15 weeks distributed over the year. Qualitative data was collected through interviews at the end of each phase. Results showed high feasibility and acceptability: 100% retention rate, 75% attendance at all feedback sessions, and an average response rate of 86% to the dietary questionnaires. The intervention had a positive and significant effect on the overall diet composition. Specifically, 92% of the participants significantly increased their daily fruit and vegetable consumption, and 58% significantly reduced their intake of red and processed meat as well as ultra-processed foods. Participants also reported reducing food waste, choosing minimally packaged and in-season foods, and prioritizing fair-sourced food. The study demonstrates the potential of digital interventions to effectively promote sustainable dietary behaviors and offers insights for future large-scale implementations. Upcoming iterations should involve a more diverse population, particularly less motivated individuals and with more diverse socioeconomic status. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/41443https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85307-5Eating behavior changeDietary sustainabilityNutritional educationeHealthmHealthN-of-1 |
| spellingShingle | Ujué Fresán Miguel López-Moreno Sergi Fàbregues Paquito Bernard Anna Boronat Vera Araújo-Soares Laura M. König Joren Buekers Guillaume Chevance Feasibility and potential effect of a pilot blended digital behavior change intervention promoting sustainable diets over a year Scientific Reports Eating behavior change Dietary sustainability Nutritional education eHealth mHealth N-of-1 |
| title | Feasibility and potential effect of a pilot blended digital behavior change intervention promoting sustainable diets over a year |
| title_full | Feasibility and potential effect of a pilot blended digital behavior change intervention promoting sustainable diets over a year |
| title_fullStr | Feasibility and potential effect of a pilot blended digital behavior change intervention promoting sustainable diets over a year |
| title_full_unstemmed | Feasibility and potential effect of a pilot blended digital behavior change intervention promoting sustainable diets over a year |
| title_short | Feasibility and potential effect of a pilot blended digital behavior change intervention promoting sustainable diets over a year |
| title_sort | feasibility and potential effect of a pilot blended digital behavior change intervention promoting sustainable diets over a year |
| topic | Eating behavior change Dietary sustainability Nutritional education eHealth mHealth N-of-1 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85307-5 |
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