title: Efficacy of a minimal intervention to reduce fat intake.
abstract: Effective dietary interventions must be developed to reduce fat intake in whole populations, rather than clinical subgroups. This study tested the effects of personalised feedback on fat intake in a general population. Hospital workers (n = 801) were randomised to receive personalised feedback or no personalised feedback. Personalised feedback consisted of one sentence expressing current fat intake as a percentage of total calorific intake. Changes in fat intake from baseline to five months post-intervention were evaluated. The personalised intervention produced significant decreases in total and saturated fat intake, compared with the control group. Total-fat decreased by 8.6% (versus 0.2% in the control group); saturated fat decreased by 9.3% (versus 1.7% in the control group). Fat intake as a proportion of total calorific intake did not decrease significantly in either condition. Findings also revealed differential effects of feedback on high- versus low-fat consumer groups. Personalised feedback significantly reduced fat intake in high-fat consumers, and prevented low-fat consumers from increasing their fat intake. Personalised fat feedback therefore represents an efficacious and low-intensity approach to the reduction of fat intake in the general population.
authors: Centre for Research in Social Attitudes, Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, UK. c.j.armitage@sheffield.ac.uk
authors: C J
authors: CJ
authors: Armitage
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Conner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004034:Diet Surveys; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted / Q000523:psychology; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education*; D010174:Pamphlets; D013664:Teaching Materials
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats