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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Lynn FrewerORCiD, Dr Carlos Celis Morales, Dr Katherine Livingstone, Dr Sharron Kuznesof, Professor John Mathers
This is the authors' accepted manuscript of an article that has been published in its final definitive form by Emerald Publishing Limited, 2022.
For re-use rights please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.
Purpose: Randomised controlled trials identify causal links between variables but not why an outcome has occurred. This analysis sought to determine psychological factors assessed at baseline influenced response to personalised nutrition.Design: Web-based, randomised, controlled trial (RCT) was conducted across seven European countries. Volunteers, both male and female, aged over 18 years were randomised to either a non-personalised (control) or a personalised (treatment) dietary advice condition. Linear Mixed Model Analysis with fixed effects was used to compare associations between Internal and External Health Locus of Control (HLoC), Nutrition Self-Efficacy (NS-E) and Self-Report Habit Index (S-RHI) at baseline (N=1444), with Healthy Eating Index (HEI) and Mediterranean Diet Index (MDI) scores between conditions post-intervention (N=763).Findings: An increase in MDI scores was observed between baseline and six months in the treatment group which was associated with higher NS-E (P<0.001), S-RHI (P<0.001) and external HLoC (P<0.001). Increase in HEI between baseline and six months in the treatment group was associated with higher NS-E (P<0.001) and external HLoC (P=0.009). Interaction between time and condition indicated increased HEI scores (P<0.001) which were associated with higher S-RHI scores in the treatment than control group (P=0.032). Internal HLoC had no effect on MDI or HEI.Psychological factors associated with behaviour change need consideration when tailoring dietary advice. Those with weaker habit strength will require communication focussed upon establishing dietary habits and support in integrating advised changes into daily routine. Information on habit strength can also be used to inform how progress toward dietary goals are monitored and fed back to the individual. Those with stronger habit strength are more likely to benefit from personalised nutrition.
Author(s): Stewart-Knox B, Rankin A, Bunting B, Frewer L, Celis-Morales C, Livingstone K, Fischer A, Poínhos R, Kuznesof S, Gibney M, Mathers JC
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: British Food Journal
Year: 2022
Volume: 124
Issue: 1
Pages: 314-330
Print publication date: 03/01/2022
Online publication date: 09/07/2021
Acceptance date: 11/06/2021
Date deposited: 11/06/2021
ISSN (print): 0007-070X
ISSN (electronic): 1758-4108
Publisher: Emerald Publishing Limited
URL: https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-03-2021-0221
DOI: 10.1108/BFJ-03-2021-0221
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