The effect of an app-based dietary intervention on diet-related greenhouse gas emissions - results from a randomized controlled trial

• Main Authors: Stephanie Pitt (Author), Linnea Sjöblom (Author), Katarina Bälter (Author), Ylva Trolle Lagerros (Author), Stephanie E Bonn (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: BMC, 2023-10-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.1186/s12966-023-01523-0; 1479-5868
• Keywords: Dietary change; mHealth; Food frequency questionnaire; Greenhouse gas emissions; Climate change; Environmental impact; Nutritional diseases. Deficiency diseases; RC620-627; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270
• Source: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, Vol 20, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2023)

Abstract Background Dietary change towards a diet low in greenhouse gas emissions (GHGEs) can reduce climate impact and improve individual-level health. However, there is a lack of understanding if diet interventions can achieve low-GHGE diets. Methods A randomized controlled trial was conducted to assess the effects of an app-based intervention. The intervention was designed to improve dietary intake of people with Type 2 diabetes, and was delivered via an app over 12 weeks, with each week covering one diet-related topic. Dietary intake was assessed at baseline and 3-month follow up by a 95-item food frequency questionnaire and linked to GHGE values. A total of n = 93 participants (n = 46 and n = 47 for the intervention and control group, respectively) were included in the analysis. Changes to GHGEs within and between the groups were analysed with inferential statistics. Results The majority (60%) of participants were male, with a mean age of 63.2 years and body mass index of 30 kg/m2. At baseline, diet-related GHGEs were 4.8 and 4.9 kg CO2-eq/day in the intervention and control group, respectively. At 3-month follow up the corresponding GHGEs were 4.7 and 4.9 kg CO2-eq/day. We found no statistically significant changes to diet-related GHGEs within or between groups, or within food categories, from baseline to 3-month follow up. Conclusion No evidence was found for the effectiveness of the app-based intervention to generate changes to diet-related GHGEs in a population of people with Type 2 diabetes. However, future interventions that target reducing meat consumption specifically may have the potential to result in a reduction of individual-level diet-related GHGEs. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03784612. Registered 24 December 2018. www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03784612 .