Testing a Custom Veggie Boost Program for Young Adults in Rural Areas

David Palenski
14th January, 2024

Testing a Custom Veggie Boost Program for Young Adults in Rural Areas
Image Source: © Natural Science News. This image is an artistic rendition.
Young adults in rural areas often experience poorer health outcomes compared to their city counterparts, and a significant contributor to this disparity is a low intake of vegetables. This is particularly concerning as dietary habits established in young adulthood can track into later life, impacting long-term health. Deakin University researchers are addressing this issue with a new study[1] investigating a digital health intervention designed to boost vegetable consumption in this at-risk population. The study focuses on young adults aged 18-35 living in rural Victoria, Australia, specifically the Loddon Campaspe and Colac Otway Shires. These individuals, who currently eat less than five servings of vegetables per day and have access to the internet via a computer or mobile device, will participate in a 12-week randomised controlled trial. The core of the intervention is a web application, named Veg4Me, designed to help participants increase their vegetable intake. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: a ‘personalised’ group and a ‘non-personalised’ group (the control group). Both groups will use the Veg4Me app, but the personalised group will receive support tailored to their individual preferences and needs. The non-personalised group will receive standard information and support. The study’s primary goal is to assess the feasibility of delivering this type of digital intervention – specifically, how many eligible young adults can be recruited, how many participate fully, and how many complete the 12-week program. Beyond feasibility, the researchers will also measure several secondary outcomes. These include how engaged participants are with the app, how easy it is to use (usability), their overall experience, and – crucially – actual changes in vegetable intake and broader eating habits. They will also investigate ‘digital health equity’, meaning whether the intervention is equally accessible and effective for all participants, regardless of their background or circumstances. A smaller group of participants will be interviewed to gain deeper insights into their experiences with the app. This research builds on existing evidence highlighting the dietary challenges faced by rural Australians. Previous studies[2] have shown that people living outside major cities in Australia experience a higher burden of diet-related chronic diseases, and that dietary intake data is often lacking in quality and consistency[3]. This lack of high-quality data makes it difficult to develop effective nutrition initiatives targeted at reducing these health disparities. The Veg4Me intervention aims to address this gap by providing a readily accessible and potentially more effective way to deliver dietary advice. The use of a digital health system is also relevant in light of broader discussions about the ethical considerations of using technology in healthcare[4]. The Veg4Me app, by offering personalised advice, aims to optimise health outcomes, but it’s important to ensure data privacy and user acceptance are prioritised. Furthermore, the concept of personalised nutrition is gaining traction as a strategy for improving dietary intake[5]. While earlier research suggests that personalised advice can be more effective than general dietary recommendations, the Veg4Me study specifically targets a population where the need is particularly acute – young adults in rural communities. The study’s focus on behaviour change techniques within the personalised intervention is also important, as simply providing information is often not enough to drive lasting dietary changes. The study, registered with the Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, is scheduled to run from August 2023 to April 2024. Results will be shared with participants, the scientific community through publications and conferences, and with the local communities in the City of Greater Bendigo and the Colac Otway Shire through dedicated dissemination events.

VegetablesNutritionHealth

References

Main Study

1) Determining the feasibility of a codesigned and personalised intervention (Veg4Me) to improve vegetable intake in young adults living in rural Australian communities: protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Published 11th January, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-078001

Related Studies

2) Rural Inequalities in the Australian Burden of Ischaemic Heart Disease: A Systematic Review.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hlc.2016.06.1213

3) Characterizing Dietary Intakes in Rural Australian Adults: A Systematic Literature Review.

https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12113515

4) The ethical challenges of personalized digital health.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2023.1123863

5) Does Personalized Nutrition Advice Improve Dietary Intake in Healthy Adults? A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmaa144


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