title: Increasing calcium intake in young women through gain-framed, targeted messages: a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adequate calcium consumption during early adulthood can help prevent osteoporosis in women.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The effects of gain-framed, targeted messaging on calcium intake were examined over 12 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Young women (18-19 years) not consuming sufficient calcium were randomly assigned to receive standard care materials (control) or gain-framed, targeted materials (experimental). Health belief model (HBM) constructs, calcium intake and markers of bone formation, resorption and bone mineral density were assessed at various time points throughout the year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Calcium intake increased significantly more in the experimental versus the control condition (p < 0.01). Self-efficacy was the only HBM construct to improve significantly more in the experimental condition versus control (p = 0.05). The HBM did not mediate changes in calcium intake. Measures of bone health did not differ between conditions by the end of this nonpharmacological intervention (p's > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is possible to increase young women's calcium consumption through gain-framed, targeted messages.
authors.affiliation: University of Western Ontario, Health Sciences, Ontario N6A5B9 Canada. mjung32@uwo.ca
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Kathleen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Martin Ginis
authors.forename: Stuart M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Carolyn D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Lordon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D010174:Pamphlets; D020377:Self Efficacy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D015415:Biomarkers; D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D015675:Osteocalcin; C036020:deoxypyridinoline