Mobile App vs Traditional Education for Healthy Nutrition

Overseen By Jacqueline Brown, MHSc

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Disqualifiers: Healthy eating curriculum covered

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 5

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether a digital game called Foodbot Factory can teach students about nutrition more effectively than traditional methods like worksheets. The goal is to determine if using a game in class enhances learning and maintains student interest. Students in Grades 4 and 5 in Ontario who have not yet studied the "Healthy Eating" part of their curriculum are eligible to participate. As an unphased study, this trial provides a unique opportunity for students to engage with innovative educational tools and contribute to improving learning methods.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What prior data suggests that this digital curriculum-based nutrition education intervention is safe for students?

Research shows that the Foodbot Factory game safely and effectively teaches kids about nutrition. In past studies, children played the game and learned about healthy eating without issues. Designed to be both fun and educational, the game has not been associated with any negative effects.

Although this trial hasn't tested the game in a classroom yet, earlier tests found that kids enjoyed it and learned more about nutrition. Learning through a game is considered low-risk, so there are no safety concerns. So far, students seem to respond well to this approach. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it compares traditional nutrition education with an innovative approach using a serious game called Foodbot Factory. Unlike conventional methods that often rely on lectures or reading materials, Foodbot Factory uses interactive gameplay to teach healthy nutrition, which could be more engaging and memorable, especially for younger audiences. This trial could reveal whether gamified learning leads to better retention of nutrition information and more positive dietary changes compared to standard education techniques.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for improving nutrition education?

Research has shown that the Foodbot Factory game, which participants in this trial may use, helps kids learn about nutrition. Studies found that children who play this game understand Canada's Food Guide better than those who learn through traditional methods. In this trial, some participants will use the Foodbot Factory game, while others will receive conventional nutrition education. The game makes learning about healthy eating fun and interactive, keeping kids interested and helping them remember what they learn. Overall, Foodbot Factory appears to be a promising tool for teaching nutrition in schools. ^{4 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

JoAnne Arcand, PhD, RD

Principal Investigator

University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for Grade 4 and 5 classrooms in Ontario, Canada that haven't yet covered the 'Healthy Eating' part of their health curriculum. It's designed to see if a game-based app can make learning about nutrition more engaging for students.

Inclusion Criteria

Classroom is located in a participating school board in Ontario

Grade 4, 4/5 or 5 classroom

Exclusion Criteria

Classroom has already covered the 'Healthy Eating' component of the Ontario Physical Health Education curriculum

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive nutrition education lessons using either the Foodbot Factory serious game or conventional learning materials for 35-40 minutes a day for five consecutive days

1 week

5 sessions (in-class)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for retention of nutrition knowledge and changes in nutrition attitudes and behaviors

3 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Conventional nutrition education intervention
• Serious game nutrition education intervention

Trial Overview The study compares two ways of teaching kids about healthy eating: using a conventional method like worksheets versus an educational game called Foodbot Factory. The goal is to see which method gets students more interested and helps them learn better.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Experimental (Foodbot Factory) Group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: Control Group Active Control 1 Intervention

Conventional nutrition education intervention is already approved in Canada for the following indications:

Approved in Canada as Conventional nutrition education for:

• General nutrition education for children

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Lead Sponsor

Trials

10

Recruited

10,400+

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Collaborator

Trials

1,417

Recruited

26,550,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The pilot study evaluated the effectiveness of the serious game 'Fit, Food, Fun' (FFF) in improving nutritional knowledge among 39 children and adolescents, showing significant improvements in both the gameplay and traditional teaching groups.

While both methods were effective, the traditional teaching approach resulted in a greater increase in nutritional knowledge compared to the FFF game, suggesting that while FFF is a promising educational tool, traditional methods may be more effective in the short term.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Short-Term Effects of the Serious Game "Fit, Food, Fun" on Nutritional Knowledge: A Pilot Study among Children and Adolescents. Holzmann, SL., Schäfer, H., Groh, G., et al.[2020]

A scoping review of 22 publications on nutrition education games found that while most studies reported positive outcomes in dietary behavior change and knowledge, the overall quality of research was poor, limiting the ability to conduct a meta-analysis.

The review highlights the need for more rigorous research to better evaluate the effectiveness of these games in promoting healthy dietary behaviors, as current studies show significant diversity in design and outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nutrition Education and Dietary Behavior Change Games: A Scoping Review. Baranowski, T., Ryan, C., Hoyos-Cespedes, A., et al.[2023]

The Foodbot Factory serious game significantly improved children's overall nutrition knowledge, with scores increasing from 10.3 to 13.5 in the game group compared to a slight increase in the control group, indicating its effectiveness as an educational tool.

Children using Foodbot Factory showed notable gains in specific areas of nutrition knowledge, including Vegetables and Fruits, Protein Foods, and Whole Grain Foods, suggesting that the game effectively teaches key components of Canada's Food Guide.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effectiveness of the Foodbot Factory Mobile Serious Game on Increasing Nutrition Knowledge in Children. Froome, HM., Townson, C., Rhodes, S., et al.[2021]

A systematic review of nutrition apps found that while they can lead to increased adherence to diet monitoring and some weight loss advantages, the evidence is limited, with only four studies meeting the inclusion criteria.

Most studies focused on weight loss rather than improving nutrition knowledge, and the outcomes were inconsistent, indicating a need for further research that incorporates behavioral theories into app design.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The use of mobile apps to improve nutrition outcomes: A systematic literature review. DiFilippo, KN., Huang, WH., Andrade, JE., et al.[2022]

The updated Foodbot Factory app, designed to teach children about healthy eating, was positively received by 19 child testers, with 89% finding it easy to use and 95% finding it fun, indicating its potential as an effective educational tool.

The revision process incorporated feedback from experts and stakeholders, resulting in 19 learning objectives and new interactive features like augmented reality and mini-games, enhancing engagement and accessibility for all users.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Updating the Foodbot Factory serious game with new interactive engaging features and enhanced educational content. Franco-Arellano, B., Brown, JM., Daggett, Q., et al.[2023]

The serious game 'VitaVillage' significantly improved nutrition knowledge in children aged 9-12, with an average increase of 2.25 points in knowledge scores after just two 20-minute sessions, compared to a control group that received no education.

Children found the game enjoyable, scoring an average of 77 out of 100 on likeability, suggesting that it could be an effective and engaging tool for nutrition education.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility and Acceptability of 'VitaVillage': A Serious Game for Nutrition Education. de Vlieger, NM., Sainsbury, L., Smith, SP., et al.[2022]

In a study involving 442 healthy Dutch adults, computer-tailored nutrition education delivered via CD-ROM or print did not lead to significant changes in objective health outcomes, such as blood lipid levels, compared to a generic information condition.

Despite previous self-reported data suggesting benefits, this study highlights the need for more effective computer-tailored nutrition interventions and emphasizes the importance of using objective measures to evaluate their impact.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Biomarker evaluation does not confirm efficacy of computer-tailored nutrition education. Kroeze, W., Dagnelie, PC., Heymans, MW., et al.[2015]

The SAlBi educa app, designed with input from healthcare and nutrition professionals, was evaluated for usability and found to be user-friendly, with 94% of participants finding it easy to learn and 59% describing it as pleasant.

In a 1-month pilot test with 39 participants, over 84% reported that the nutritional messages were clear and useful, highlighting the app's potential to effectively promote healthy eating habits based on the Mediterranean diet.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

SAlBi educa (Tailored Nutrition App for Improving Dietary Habits): Initial Evaluation of Usability. Gonzalez-Ramirez, M., Cejudo-Lopez, A., Lozano-Navarrete, M., et al.[2023]

The Nutri-Expert nutritional education software significantly improved dietetic knowledge among obese patients compared to traditional management, as shown in a study with 557 participants over one year.

Both the Nutri-Expert group and the traditional management group experienced significant improvements in BMI and dietary habits, indicating that while Nutri-Expert enhances knowledge, it does not lead to greater weight loss compared to standard care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Multicenter randomized evaluation of a nutritional education software in obese patients. Turnin, MC., Bourgeois, O., Cathelineau, G., et al.[2016]

Citations

1. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39880422/

Efficacy of the Foodbot Factory digital curriculum-based ... Efficacy of the Foodbot Factory digital curriculum-based nutrition education intervention in improving children's nutrition knowledge, attitudes ...

2. bmjopen.bmj.com bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/1/e092426.full

Efficacy of the Foodbot Factory digital curriculum-based ... The Foodbot Factory intervention, consisting of serious game (ie, a digital game designed for education) and curriculum-based lesson plans, was developed to ...

3. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/346025551_The_Effectiveness_of_the_Foodbot_Factory_Mobile_Serious_Game_on_Increasing_Nutrition_Knowledge_in_Children

(PDF) The Effectiveness of the Foodbot Factory Mobile ... The objective of this study was to determine if Foodbot Factory effectively improves children's knowledge of Canada's Food Guide, compared to a control group.

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7694779/

The Effectiveness of the Foodbot Factory Mobile Serious ... Foodbot Factory has the potential to be an effective educational tool to support children in learning about nutrition. Keywords: healthy eating, ...

5. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05979259

Examining the Impact of a Mobile Nutrition Education App ... This trial will test the hypothesis that a digital curriculum-based nutrition education intervention using the Foodbot Factory serious game (i.e., a game ...

6. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/11/3413

The Effectiveness of the Foodbot Factory Mobile Serious ... Data generated in this study can support evidence on the development of future digital tools and the use of gamification and behavioural change ...

7. formative.jmir.org formative.jmir.org/2025/1/e69242

Evaluation of a Curriculum-Based Nutrition Education ... Our research team previously conducted a pilot study of the Foodbot Factory serious game, which provided us with an understanding of the ...

8. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11781139/

Efficacy of the Foodbot Factory digital curriculum-based ... The Foodbot Factory intervention consists of a serious game and nutrition lesson plans, which were designed and informed by the perspectives ...

9. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/388517136_Efficacy_of_the_Foodbot_Factory_digital_curriculum-based_nutrition_education_intervention_in_improving_children's_nutrition_knowledge_attitudes_and_behaviours_in_elementary_school_classrooms_protocol_

Efficacy of the Foodbot Factory digital curriculum-based ... Pilot data have demonstrated that Foodbot Factory can significantly improve children's nutrition knowledge, but it has not yet been evaluated in ...