About this trial
Food represents one of the greatest health and environmental challenges of the 21st century. Consuming less of the most environmentally damaging foods, such as meat, is considered an effective method to reduce food-related greenhouse gas emissions. The aim of these N-of-1 FOOD SWAP intervention studies is to investigate whether and which physiological, psychological and environmental factors, at an individual level, modify the adoption and adherence of food swaps aiming to reduce the intake of red meat and replace this with fish or plant-based foods, in young adults. The series of N-of-1 studies will also assess whether an 8-week food swap intervention will improve general health markers such as blood pressure, plasma lipids and glucose, and blood/urinary metabotype. This approach will provide insight into physiological, behavioural and environmental factors that can help explain individual fluctuations in adherence and physiological outcomes common in nutrition studies. In the future, this should enable us to tailor how we deliver effective individualised interventions and better consider and control for factors affecting adherence and response to dietary interventions.
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
men and women
aged 18-30 years,
having a high baseline consumption of red meat (More than 70 grams per day or 280 grams per 4 days)
who are willing to make their diet healthier and more sustainable but do not know how or are facing barriers
Disqualifiers
Having a lower red meat consumption (less than 70 grams per day or 240 grams per 4 days)
being vegetarian or vegan
having a clinical diagnosis of hypertension or high cholesterol, having unstable or untreated thyroid disorder
taking blood pressure and/or cholesterol-lowering medications (e.g. beta blockers or statins)
Trial design
Single group
Treatments tested in this trial
Food Swap
Other interventionPersonalised food swaps and dietary advice on how to incorporate these swaps into their usual diet
Treatment groups
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
Grams of red meat consumption
During the first eight weeks (period A1), participants will be instructed to follow their usual diet. From week 9 (period B), participants will start the intervention, where they will receive the food swaps identified and agreed by them during a food swap interview. During the final eight weeks (period A2), participants will cease intervention products. The grams of red meat will be monitored before, during and after the intervention.
Secondary outcomes
Weight
Kg of bodyweight
Nutiritional status
Body Mass Index
Blood pressure
Including systolic pressure and diastolic pressure readings (mmHg)
Total cholesterol
mmol/L, measured every 4 weeks
Sponsors and contacts
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