Design and Implementation of a Mobile App for Promoting Healthy and Sustainable Eating Among Students at the University of Parma (MAPHealthS)

NCT06977802 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: UNIPLATE
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile app (MAPHealthS) in promoting healthy and sustainable eating habits among university students at the University of Parma. The study aims to answer the following questions: Does the use of the educational mobile app increase daily fiber intake among students? Does the app improve adherence to sustainable and healthy diets (e.g., Mediterranean and Planetary diets)? What are the effects of the app on physical activity levels, anthropometric measures, and the environmental impact of participants' diets? Researchers will compare the intervention group (using the app) to a control group (no intervention) over a 12-week period, including a 6-week active phase and a 6-week follow-up phase. Participants will: Download and use the app (intervention group) or follow no intervention (control group) for 12 weeks. Complete dietary assessments (24-hour recalls, food frequency questionnaires), provide urine and fecal samples, and undergo anthropometric measurements at multiple time points. Wear actigraphs (a subgroup) to measure energy expenditure. Answer questionnaires on dietary habits, physical activity, and app usability. The study expects to see a significant increase in fiber intake (7g/day) and improved sustainability awareness among app users.

Conditions

Dietary Fibers; Environmental Impact; Eating Habits

Keywords

dietary fiber; mobile health; sustainable eating; RCT; university students

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Dietary Fiber Intake

  The primary outcome measures the change in participants' daily dietary fiber intake (grams/day) after using the nutrition education mobile app for 6 weeks, compared to baseline and control group levels, using 24-hour dietary recalls and food frequency questionnaires.

  Baseline (T0), after three-weeks (T1), after six-weeks (T2), after twelve-weeks (T3)

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Planetary Diet Adherence

  Baseline (T0), after twelve-weeks (T3)

• Mediterranean Diet Adherence

  Baseline (T0), after twelve-weeks (T3)

• Physical Activity Levels

  Baseline (T0), after three-weeks (T1), after six-weeks (T2), after twelve-weeks (T3)

• Diet-Related Environmental Footprint

  Baseline (T0), after three-weeks (T1), after six-weeks (T2), after twelve-weeks (T3)

• Diet-Related Water Footprint

  Baseline (T0), after three-weeks (T1), after six-weeks (T2), after twelve-weeks (T3)

Study Arms (2)

Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Intervention: Participants use the UNIPLATE mobile app, a tailored educational tool designed to promote healthy and sustainable eating. Features: Daily nutrition/sustainability tips, meal planning, recipe suggestions (prioritizing plant-based foods), gamified challenges, and progress tracking. Delivery: 6-week active phase with daily app notifications, followed by 6-week follow-up (no notifications). Tailoring: Content adapts to baseline food-related psychobehavioral profiles (assessed via questionnaire). Support: Developed with input from nutritionists, psychologists, and computer scientists (University of Parma).

Behavioral: Digital Nutrition Education Mobile App for Healthy and Sustainable Eating

Control

NO INTERVENTION

Intervention: No app or active intervention; participants maintain habitual dietary behaviors. Monitoring: Completes identical assessments (dietary recalls, biomarkers, anthropometrics) as the intervention group.

Interventions

Digital Nutrition Education Mobile App for Healthy and Sustainable Eating BEHAVIORAL

This intervention is uniquely characterized by: Dual Health-Sustainability Focus - Unlike most nutrition apps targeting weight loss, this integrates planetary health metrics (e.g., carbon/water footprints) alongside dietary guidance. Psychobehavioral Personalization - Content is tailored to four predefined user profiles (e.g., "Convenience-Seeker," "Health-Conscious") identified through baseline questionnaires, adapting messaging strategies (e.g., time-saving tips vs. environmental appeals). Biomarker-Validated Outcomes - Unlike apps relying solely on self-reports, efficacy is assessed via objective measures (urinary LC-MS metabolomics, fecal microbiota analysis). Academic Development - Designed by nutrition scientists + AI engineers (University of Parma), with recipes aligned to Mediterranean/Planetary Diet standards

Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• University students (undergraduate/graduate) at the University of Parma Age 18-29 years Italian nationality and residence in Italy Baseline fiber intake \<17.7g/day (below Italian average) Ownership of an iOS/Android smartphone with internet access No current use of nutrition/health tracking apps
• No self-reported:
• Chronic diseases (diabetes, metabolic disorders)
• Eating disorders
• Use of medications for hypertension/dyslipidemia
• No antibiotic/probiotic use in past 4 weeks
• Not following prescribed diets or meal plans
• Not pregnant/lactating Signed informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Not University students (undergraduate/graduate) at the University of Parma Not Aged 18-29 years Not Italian nationality and residence in Italy Baseline fiber intake \>17.7g/day (over Italian average) Not ownership of an iOS/Android smartphone with internet access Current use of nutrition/health tracking apps
• Self-reported:
• Chronic diseases (diabetes, metabolic disorders)
• Eating disorders
• Use of medications for hypertension/dyslipidemia
• Antibiotic/probiotic use in past 4 weeks
• Following prescribed diets or meal plans
• Pregnant/lactating
• Not signed informed consent

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Parma: lead
• University of Milano Bicocca: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Plesso Biotecnologico Integrato

Parma, PR, 43121, Italy

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Feeding Behavior

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior, Animal; Behavior

Study Officials

• Francesca Scazzina

  Università di Parma

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Model Details: This is a randomized, parallel-group controlled trial with a 12-week duration (6-week active intervention + 6-week follow-up). Participants (n=60) are university students with low baseline fiber intake, randomly assigned to: Intervention group (n=30): Uses a tailored mobile app (MAPHealthS) with nutrition education, meal planning, and sustainability tips. Control group (n=30): No intervention. Key features: Blinding: Single-blind (outcome assessors may be blinded; participants are aware of group allocation). Data collection: Dietary intake (24h recalls, FFQs), biomarkers (urine/fecal), anthropometrics, and actigraphy (subgroup). Primary outcome: Change in daily fiber intake (g/day). Secondary outcomes: Diet sustainability scores, physical activity, body composition, and environmental impact.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 24, 2025
• First Posted: May 18, 2025
• Study Start: November 4, 2024
• Primary Completion: April 29, 2025
• Study Completion: April 29, 2025
• Last Updated: July 30, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Locations

IT (1)