Increasing Availability of Lower Energy Meals on Food Choice and Intake

Socioeconomic Position and the Impact of Increasing the Proportion of Lower Energy Foods Available on Supermarket Meal Choices and Consumption

This study will examine the effectiveness of a structural intervention (baseline proportion of lower energy ready meals vs increased proportion of lower energy ready meals) on calories (kcal) ordered and consumed. The study will use a within-subjects design, meaning all participants will be exposed to both conditions (baseline vs increased lower energy meal menus). The procedure will involve participants placing orders for supermarket ready meals, which are then delivered to their homes for their consumption. This study will also investigate whether the effectiveness of the intervention varies, depending on socioeconomic position (SEP). The primary hypothesis is that increasing proportion of lower energy options will decrease total kcal ordered and consumed, and that there will be no difference between higher and lower SEP. To address the limited evidence on longer term impacts of dietary interventions on daily energy intake, the present study will also examine post-meal energy consumption up to midnight on the following day. Finally, this study will explore the psychological processes that might underlie the effectiveness of the intervention among individuals with higher and lower SEP; namely, food choice motives, satiety responsiveness, plate clearing tendencies, and food waste concerns.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Obesity; Diet, Healthy; Food Selection; Eating Behavior
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Manipulation of availability of lower energy meal options

Detailed Description

See attached protocol documents.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 80
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • Merseyside
    • Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom, L69 7ZA
      • University of Liverpool

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• UK (United Kingdom) residents, aged 18 or over
• Fluent in English
• Have access to a phone/tablet/computer device which has access to Internet and a functioning camera
• Willing to consume two supermarket ready meals
• Have access to a functioning microwave and oven for the preparation of the ready meals

Exclusion Criteria:

• Taking part more than once
• Another member of the same household has participated in the study (Multiple members of the same household will not be allowed to take part)
• Current or historic diagnosed eating disorders
• Currently on any medication which affects appetite
• Any of the following dietary restrictions, intolerances, or allergies (Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy/lactose-free, food allergy - such as milk, eggs, nut, wheat, fish, etc)
• History of severe childhood allergies, anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Baseline availability; Baseline availability of lower energy meal options	Other: Manipulation of availability of lower energy meal options; Menus provided differ in % of menu options that are higher vs. lower in energy
Experimental: Increased availability; Increased availability of lower energy meal options	Other: Manipulation of availability of lower energy meal options; Menus provided differ in % of menu options that are higher vs. lower in energy

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Total meal energy (kcal) ordered	Calculated as the sum of the kcal content of the main and side ordered	20 minutes (the time frame denotes time taken to complete the initial study questionnaire and make the food choices)
Total meal energy (kcal) consumed	Calculated as the sum of the kcals consumed from the main and side combined	Once the food has been delivered, the time frame is up to 72 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Post-meal intake (kcal)	Calculated as total energy (kcal) consumed after the study meal until midnight on the following day (dietary recall).	Measured 24-30 hours after study meal is consumed

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Liverpool
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Eric Robinson, PhD, Study Principal Investigator

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 13, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 5, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): July 5, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 10, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 17, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): May 19, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 12, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 11, 2022
• Last Verified: May 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: availability; food choice; socio-economic position; eating behaviour
• Other Study ID Numbers: 8710 Ready Meal Menu Study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: Shared on the Open Science Framework (OSF)
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: On publication, indefinitely
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Open website
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP

Study Data/Documents

1. Study Protocol
   Information comments: Protocol on the Open Science Framework (OSF)
2. Statistical Analysis Plan
3. Individual Participant Data Set
   Information comments: The study protocol and statistical analysis plan were pre-registered on the OSF prior to starting recruitment. IPD will be made available when results are published.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No