Healthy Meal Program + Tech Nudges for Healthy Nutrition

(EWAW Trial)

Overseen By Alice Ammerman, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Equiti Food, LLC

Disqualifiers: Severe food allergies, Advanced kidney disease, Psychosis, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if providing healthy meals and using a phone app for gentle reminders can improve workers' eating habits. Participants will receive either nutritious meals ("Good Bowls") alone or with app nudges ("Good Bowls + App Nudges") to encourage healthier choices. The study will track changes in diet, weight, blood pressure, and general food security. Ideal participants are workers who can control their diet, have no severe food allergies, and plan to stay in their current location for at least a year. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to research that could enhance workplace wellness programs.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this program is safe for improving worker health?

Research shows that Good Bowls are healthy frozen meals designed to fit a Mediterranean diet. These meals contain beneficial fats that might lower the risk of long-term illnesses like heart disease and diabetes. Although specific safety data on Good Bowls is unavailable, they are crafted to be nutritious and beneficial.

For the Good Bowls + App Nudges, studies suggest that phone apps encouraging better food choices can improve diets without causing negative feelings. People generally feel positive about using the app to assist with their food decisions.

While specific safety data for these options is lacking, both the meals and the app nudges focus on promoting healthy eating habits. They are generally well-received and aim to support better health without known negative effects. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Healthy Meal Program + Tech Nudges trial because it explores how combining nutritious meals with technology can enhance healthy eating habits. Unlike traditional dietary interventions that focus solely on meal plans, this approach uses "Good Bowls" paired with app nudges to encourage consistent healthy choices. These app nudges act as reminders and motivational tools, aiming to improve adherence to a healthy diet over time. By integrating technology, this trial hopes to uncover new ways to sustain long-term nutritional changes, which could revolutionize how we tackle dietary improvements.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for improving workers' health?

Research has shown that Good Bowls, healthy meals made from local ingredients, can improve eating habits. These meals encourage a healthy diet based on proven evidence. Studies indicate that controlling portion sizes and eating nutritious meals like Good Bowls can aid in weight management and support overall health.

In this trial, participants will experience different combinations of interventions. One group will start with Good Bowls alone and then add app reminders, while another group will begin with Good Bowls combined with app reminders and later switch to Good Bowls alone. Research on app reminders has shown they can increase healthier food choices by about 15.3%. Combining healthy meals with app reminders is expected to improve diet quality and other health outcomes, such as blood pressure and weight. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Kurt Ribisl, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for blue-collar workers at rural manufacturing plants who can consent to participate, control their diet, and commit to the study for a year. It's not suitable for those with advanced kidney disease, severe psychiatric conditions or food allergies, cognitive impairments, or disabilities that hinder full participation.

Inclusion Criteria

Willing and able to provide written informed consent and participate in all study activities

No plans to move from the area for at least 1 year

Free living to the extent that participant has control over dietary intake

Exclusion Criteria

I am able to fully participate in study activities without assistance.

Severe food allergies

Known psychosis or major psychiatric illness that prevents participation with study activities

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Initial Treatment

Participants are randomized to either Good Bowls alone or Good Bowls + Phone App nudges for four months

16 weeks

Monthly visits for weight and blood pressure measurements

Crossover Treatment

Participants switch groups to receive the alternate intervention for another four months

16 weeks

Monthly visits for weight and blood pressure measurements

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in diet adherence, weight, blood pressure, and food security

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Good Bowls
• Good Bowls + App Nudges

Trial Overview The study tests if providing 'Good Bowls' healthy meals alone or combined with mobile app nudges improves diet quality (measured by a Mediterranean diet screener), weight, blood pressure, carotenoid levels and food security among participants over an eight-month period using a crossover design.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Good Bowls + App Nudges, followed by Good Bowls alone Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants in this arm will be exposed to Good Bowls + App Nudges throughout the first four months followed by four months of Good Bowls alone.

Group II: Good Bowls, followed by Good Bowls + App Nudges Active Control 2 Interventions

Participants in this arm will be exposed to Good Bowls alone throughout the first four months followed by four months of Good Bowls + App Nudges.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Equiti Food, LLC

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1

Recruited

240+

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Collaborator

Trials

1,588

Recruited

4,364,000+

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Collaborator

Trials

2,896

Recruited

8,053,000+

University of North Carolina, Greensboro

Collaborator

Trials

33

Recruited

16,700+

North Carolina State University

Collaborator

Trials

38

Recruited

50,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study involving 88 early childhood education centers, incorporating nudge strategies into workshop invitations did not significantly increase registration rates compared to generic invitations, with only 25% of the intervention group registering versus 20% in the control group.

The study found no significant differences in invitation recall or acceptability between the two groups, suggesting that low-intensity behavioral nudges may not be effective in promoting participation in nutrition education workshops.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of Nudge Strategies on Nutrition Education Participation in Child Care: Randomized Controlled Trial. Grady, A., Barnes, C., Lum, M., et al.[2021]

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05776303

Study Details | NCT05776303 | Good Bowls: Eat Well At Work Using a crossover design, the primary outcome is the score on a validated Mediterranean diet screener, with secondary outcomes including weight, blood pressure, ...

2. hpdp.unc.edu hpdp.unc.edu/current-research/good-bowls-empowering-communities-to-achieve-good-food-access-and-health-equity/

Good Bowls: Empowering Communities to Achieve Good ... Good Bowls are locally-sourced, delicious, and nutritious frozen meals based on recipes developed to promote an evidence-based healthful dietary pattern.

3. hpdp.unc.edu hpdp.unc.edu/2018/05/good-bowls-a-recipe-for-health-equity/

Good Bowls: A recipe for health equity Good Bowls will use produce from local farmers, including cosmetically-challenged food (“ugly food”) or excess produce that would otherwise go ...

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8874720/

The Use of Portion Control Plates to Promote Healthy Eating ... The use of portion control plates in nutrition interventions appears to promote weight loss among those with overweight and obesity and/or type ...

5. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/8/1976

Efficacy of Dietary Intervention with Group Activities on ... Dietary intakes and frailty status were the primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes included working memory and depression. The measurements were performed at ...

6. eatgoodbowls.com eatgoodbowls.com/nutrition

Good Bowls Nutritional Content Healthful fats reduce the risk for many chronic diseases including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer. Healthful fats include polyunsaturated fats (or ...

7. eatgoodbowls.com eatgoodbowls.com/

Good Bowls Good Bowls - Locally sourced, locally made ... Good Bowls are healthy frozen meals that are based on the Mediterranean diet and come in over a dozen flavors. They were created by a UNC nutrition professor.