P94 A Proof-of-Concept Randomized Controlled Trial Using NOVA to Supplement MyPlate Concepts

• Published in: Journal of nutrition education and behavior Vol. 51; no. 7; p. S75
• Main Authors: Nazmi, Aydin, Tseng, Marilyn, Robinson, Derrick, Neill, Dawn
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.07.2019
• ISSN: 1499-4046; 1878-2620
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2019.05.470

The US Dietary Guidelines (USDG) and MyPlate do not reflect the reality of the modern food environment, which is replete with unhealthy ultra-processed food products. These products represent 60% of the calories consumed by Americans, but they are also difficult to categorize using conventional “food group” (i.e. nutrient-based) frameworks. The NOVA food classification system categorizes foods based on level of processing, but its utility in nutrition education has not been widely tested. To assess the impact of a proof-of-concept nutrition education intervention on nutrition knowledge. Two hundred and fifty three university students were invited to participate in this randomized, controlled trial with three arms: MyPlate intervention, combined MyPlate + NOVA intervention, and control group. Intervention groups received one educational flyer via email. Electronic baseline and follow-up surveys assessed nutrition knowledge of 25 common foods. Outcomes of interest were correct classification of: MyPlate food groups, MyPlate sugar, salt, and fat ‘limit’ status, and NOVA food category. Paired t-test compared pre and post intervention differences and simple linear regression was used to calculate percent change in intervention groups compared to control. Data were available for 174 participants (69%). The MyPlate intervention group improved only for the MyPlate limit status question, 3.6%-point increase (95% CI 0.6, 6.7). The MyPlate+NOVA group improved significantly across all three questions, with increases of 4.0 (95% CI 1.0, 7.0), 6.0 (95% CI 3.2, 9.0), and 11.1% points (95% CI 6.8, 15.3) for the three survey questions, respectively. Performance in the control group was mixed. This study employed a simple “low-dose” intervention to explore the impact of a novel intervention and generate new hypotheses. Our results suggest that NOVA principles may be more easily understood and applied than those of MyPlate. Education strategies focusing on level of food processing may be more effective in the context of the modern food environment compared to the conventional “food group” approach. None.