An Intervention Targeting Fruit and Vegetable Intake Among Rural Youth

NCT01412697 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: #8520369
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 1,119
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The investigators implemented a theory-based randomized controlled trial in ten rural Virginia middle schools in 2008-2010 and assessed the impact on health behaviors including fruit/vegetable intake as a primary outcome. Schools were randomized to intervention or control groups. Goal setting, peer leaders, and in-class workshops were intervention features. Seventh graders filled out surveys on health behaviors, psycho-social variables, and demographic characteristics. The investigators expected schools receiving the intervention to report a higher fruit-vegetable intake compared to control schools where students received standard health information. Sample (n=1,119) was 48.5% female, 50% White, with a mean age of 12.6 years. Fruit/vegetable intake was significantly higher in intervention schools at immediate post and at 1-year follow-up compared to controls.

Conditions

Imbalance of Constituents of Food Intake

Keywords

Rural youth; Theory-based intervention; Randomized by schools; Fruit and vegetable intake; Health classes

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Fruit and vegetable intake

  We surveyed students on fruit/vegetable intake at baseline, immediate post intervention and 1 year follow-up

  Up to one year

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Confidence to increase fruit and vegetable intake

  Up to one year

Study Arms (2)

Fruit and Vegetable Intake Behavioral Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

measure fruit and vegetable intake in rural youth based on specific behavioral intervention.

Behavioral: Fruit and vegetable intake in rural youth

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

control group received the standard health information

Interventions

Fruit and vegetable intake in rural youth BEHAVIORAL

A theory based health behavior intervention, developed for youth is presented to seventh grade youth over 8 weeks to test their improvement in their intake of fruits and vegetables.

Fruit and Vegetable Intake Behavioral Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• grade youth
• attending participating middle schools

You may not qualify if:

• In grades other than 7th grade

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Virginia Commonwealth University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Nottoway Middle School

Crewe, Virginia, 23930, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Wilson DB, Jones RM, McClish D, Westerberg AL, Danish S. Fruit and vegetable intake among rural youth following a school-based randomized controlled trial. Prev Med. 2012 Feb;54(2):150-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2011.11.005. Epub 2011 Dec 3.

  PMID: 22178819 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Fruit

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Food; Diet, Food, and Nutrition; Physiological Phenomena; Food and Beverages

Study Officials

• Steven Danish, PhD

  Virginia Commonwealth University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 3, 2011
• First Posted: August 9, 2011
• Study Start: September 1, 2008
• Primary Completion: June 1, 2009
• Study Completion: November 1, 2010
• Last Updated: September 16, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Locations

US (1)