The Menus of Change Health and Heart Benefits for University Students
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- This is an observational study: the protocol does not assign a study treatment.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Healthy Lifestyle. Basic parameters: 18 years — 25 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
The Menus of Change Health and Heart Benefits for University Students (The MOCHAHS Trial): a Cross-sectional Study
Overview
The goal of this cross-sectional study is to investigate the health benefits of the Menus of Change in undergraduate university students, by comparing 2 groups: Students eating in the Menus of change catered halls, versus students eating outside the Menus of change meal plan. The main question it aims to answer is: What are the effects of the menus of change on other vascular outcomes, namely blood pressure? What are the effects of the menus of change on other health markers?
Detailed description
The Menus of Change (MoC) is an example of behaviour change that was created by The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) and Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. This initiative is based on a set of around 24 core principles, mainly promoting and serving 'healthy, sustainable, and delicious' food in restaurants and foodservice operations. The University of Reading has successfully implemented the MoC across the campus and in students' accommodations. However, MoC is not implemented across all campus halls.
To date, most of the studies performed in relation to the MoC had explored techniques to encourage students towards healthier, more sustainable diets. Very little research focuses on the associated health outcomes and hence the impact on health of the eating pattern laid out in the MoC principles.
Therefore, this project aims to investigate the health impact of the menu of change on university students, by comparing 2 groups: students eating in MoC catered halls, following the meal plan provided by the university food services, versus students who do not follow the menus of change meal plan. The primary aim will be to investigate the effect of the MoC on vascular outcomes, namely arterial stiffness, a particularly important tool in younger adults with low-moderate cardiovascular disease risk.
Secondary aims will be to investigate other vascular outcomes, namely blood pressure changes, as well as looking at other health markers, such as full blood count, lipid profile, sugar levels, liver and kidney function, and CVD related inflammatory markers. In addition, the study aims to look at the impact of the MoC on stress and anxiety levels and the differences in students' attainment between groups.
Primary outcome measures
- Arterial stiffness [Time frame: up to 2 weeks after completing a 3-day food diary]
Secondary outcome measures (7)
- Full blood count [Time frame: up to 2 weeks after completing a 3-day food diary]
- Lipid profile [Time frame: up to 2 weeks after completing a 3-day food diary]
- Glucose levels [Time frame: up to 2 weeks after completing a 3-day food diary]
- liver profile [Time frame: up to 2 weeks after completing a 3-day food diary]
- Kidney profile [Time frame: up to 2 weeks after completing a 3-day food diary]
- SCFA levels [Time frame: up to 2 weeks after completing a 3-day food diary]
- Cardiovascular disease related inflammatory biomarkers [Time frame: up to 2 weeks after completing a 3-day food diary]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Adults
- Home students living in university halls
- Undergraduates
- Can understand participant information sheet and willing to comply with the study design
Exclusion criteria
- International students
- postgraduates
- living outside the university halls
- participating in other studies
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
Study locations
Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
Identifiers
NCT: NCT05863078 · TBC