The Study of Automated Telephone Programs for the Maintenance of Dietary Change

The purpose of this study is to test two different approaches to helping individuals who have recently starting eating a healthful diet maintain those healthy changes. This study will deliver a health program using an automated telephone system. The programs will be designed to help individuals maintain a healthy diet change for a lifetime.

RCT is completed. However, the eligibility was 18 y/o or greater and living in Greater Boston area. The participants used an evidenced based dietary intervention for 3 months and then were randomized to 1 of 3 arms. Those in the experimental arm received a 6 mo intervention based on social cognitive theory or goal systems theory. The intervention was designed to help the participants maintain previously achieved changes in the their diet, e.g., fruits and vegetables. The outcome measures are fruit and vegetable consumption as measured by servings on multiple dietary measures as well as a 24 hr dietary recall.

• Behavioral: Social Cognitive Theory
  6 mo dietary intervention. This arm received an diet intervention designed to maintain changes in fruit and vegetable consumption. The intervention components were based on social cognitive theory.
  Other Name: Social cognitive theory (SCT)
• Behavioral: goal system theory
  This arm received a 6 mo diet intervention designed to maintain changes in fruit and vegetable consumption. The intervention components were based on goal systems theory and delivered by an automated telephone system.
  Other Name: Goal systems theory (GST)

• Experimental: social cognitive theory
  This arm received an diet intervention designed to maintain changes in fruit and vegetable consumption. The intervention components were based on social cognitive theory and delivered by an automated telephone system.
  Intervention: Behavioral: Social Cognitive Theory
• Experimental: Goal Systems Theory
  This arm received an diet intervention designed to maintain changes in fruit and vegetable consumption. The intervention components were based on goal systems theory.
  Intervention: Behavioral: goal system theory
• No Intervention: Comparison group
  comparison group

Inclusion Criteria:

• Consume fewer than 5 fruits and vegetables per day.
• Understand conversational English
• Have the ability to use a telephone without assistance

Exclusion Criteria:

• Under 18 years of age
• Diagnosis of a health condition for which dietary recommendations in the would be contraindicated,
• Have cognitive impairment
• Have a terminal illness, recent myocardial infarction, current or former diagnosis of an eating disorder, pregnancy
• Consume > 5 servings of fruit and vegetable per day, or
• Plan to move away from the Boston area in less than 30 months.