Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Personalized Texting System for Restaurant Meals

 描述（申请人提供）：超过三分之二的成年人被认为超重（BMI >25 kg/m2）或肥胖（BMI >30 kg/m2），使美国每年与肥胖相关的死亡人数估计为30万人。与肥胖相关的经济负担正在增加，相关的医疗费用估计每年为1470亿美元。导致肥胖及其并发症的最重要因素之一是离家吃饭，与在家做饭相比，膳食中的卡路里，脂肪和钠含量更高，纤维和钙含量更低。居住在基地外的军事人口特别容易受到这些问题的影响，因为他们往往无法持续获得基地内的健康餐饮设施。该研究项目探讨了实施一个短信系统的可行性，该系统旨在鼓励军人在外出就餐时做出更健康的膳食选择。将从陆军预备役和陆军国民警卫队招募大约75名参与者，在6周内使用短信系统。参与者将收到短信，告知他们当前位置附近的餐馆，这些餐馆提供营养师推荐的菜单选择。一旦参与者选择了一家餐厅，健康的菜单选项将被确定。在短信系统实施之前和之后，参与者将填写经过验证的问卷，并参加营养专家的咨询，以评估有关外出就餐和营养的知识，态度，信念和行为，以及这些在研究过程中如何变化。短信系统还将跟踪参与者的参与率和用餐选择。这项研究计划的第二阶段将扩大到包括跟踪和评估其他膳食选择（例如，杂货、零食等），包括语音激活膳食推荐，以及评估照片识别软件，以帮助参与者选择更健康的选择。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): More than two-thirds of adults are considered overweight (BMI >25 kg/m2) or obese (BMI >30 kg/m2) putting annual estimates of obesity-related deaths in the United States at 300,000 per year. The economic burdens associated with obesity are increasing, with associated medical costs estimated at $147 billion annually. One of the most significant contributors to obesity and its co-morbidities is eating away from home, with meals higher in calories, fat and sodium, and lower in fiber and calcium compared to meals prepared in the home. Military populations who live off base are particularly susceptible to these concerns as they often lack consistent access to healthy dining facilities located on base. This research project explores the feasibility of implementing a text-messaging system designed to encourage military populations to make healthier meal selections when dining away from home. Approximately 75 participants from the Army Reserves and Army National Guard will be recruited to engage with the text-messaging system over a period of 6 weeks. Participants will receive text messages informing them of restaurants near their current location which offer dietitian-recommended menu choices. Once the participant has selected a restaurant, the healthier menu options will be identified. Before and after the implementation of the texting system, participants will fill out validated questionnaires and participate in consultations with nutrition experts to assess knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors regarding dining out and nutrition, and how these change over the course of the study. The texting system will also track the participation rates and meal selections made by participants. Phase II of this research program will be expanded to include tracking and assessment of other meal selections (e.g., groceries, snacks, etc.), include voice-activated meal recommendations, and assess photo recognition software to assist participants in selecting more healthful options.