Educational Nutritional Intervention for Adolescents
Condition: Early Intervention, Educational; Health Promotion; Feeding Behavior; Adolescent Health
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Randomized controlled trial by conglomerates whose objective is to evaluate the effectiveness
      of an educational nutritional intervention, based on the Social Cognitive Theory, for the
      increase in the consumption of vegetables and fruits and the decrease in the consumption of
      ultra-processed foods in adolescent high school students, in the University of Guadalajara,
      in Guadalajara, Jalisco.
    

Detailed description: 
      Background: Adolescent nutrition is of vital importance for their growth and development, at
      this stage eating habits for adult life are consolidated. However, currently the eating
      habits of adolescents are mainly characterized by a high consumption of ultra-processed foods
      and a low consumption of vegetables and fruits. Effective nutritional interventions focused
      on this age group can contribute to the prevention of adolescent diseases at the current
      stage and in later stages.

      Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of an educational nutritional intervention, based on the
      Social Cognitive Theory, to increase the consumption of vegetables and fruits and decrease
      the consumption of ultra-processed foods, in adolescent high school students at the
      University of Guadalajara (UDG), in Guadalajara, Jalisco, in the year 2022.

      Material and methods: Randomized controlled trial by conglomerates, students from the school
      groups chosen at random, from two high schools (one as a control group and another
      intervention) also chosen at random will be included. Adolescents who agree to participate
      will complete pre- and post-intervention assessments on fruit and vegetable consumption and
      ultra-processed foods. A multilevel analysis will be used to compare post-intervention
      variables between groups.
    

Intervention name(s): ALIADA: Alimentación, Adolescencia y Ambiente
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): The objective of the educational nutritional intervention is to promote in adolescents an increase in their consumption of vegetables and fruits and a decrease in their consumption of ultra-processed foods, through the application of the TSC constructs, with the use of education by pairs as the main strategy (peer leaders). It lasts two months, includes three exclusive sessions for peer leaders and five sessions for all participants, where the leaders, together with the researchers, will lead the activities of the sessions, as well as a general event for all high school students. Intervention activities include: electronic presentations, videos, food preparation and label reading workshops, individual and team reflection activities, goal setting and monitoring, board games, contests, among others. In addition, each participant is given a workbook, which contains key messages and activities for each educational session.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: An intervention group and a control group (no intervention, with usual education)
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Prevention
Keywords: Vegetables; Fruit; Ultra-processed Food