Competing studies and industry influence shape uncertainty over future U.S. recommendations on safe drinking levels and public health messaging

Competing studies and industry influence shape uncertainty over future U.S. recommendations on safe drinking levels and public health messaging

New US dietary guidelines expected by end of Sept. Health Secretary Kennedy suggests changes emphas...

Background: Insufficient adherence to dietary guidelines underscores the need for effective interventions promoting healthy eating, including dairy consumption, among Canadian families. Research suggests that web-based interventions grounded in user research and behavior change theories can effectively support dietary improvements. However, few theory-driven digital interventions specifically target dairy consumption in families. Objective: This study describes the development of a web-based nutrition intervention, Dairyathlon, designed to promote dairy consumption among families using the IDEAS (Ideate, Design, Assess, and Share) framework. Additionally, it evaluates user experience with the web-based platform. Methods: Following the IDEAS framework, family perspectives and beliefs regarding dairy consumption were explored through ethnographic research and interviews. Behavior change techniques, based on the Theory of Planned Behavior, were integrated to enhance attitudes and perceived behavioral control toward dairy intake. These techniques underwent iterative design, prototype testing, and refinement. User experience was assessed with the AttrakDiff questionnaire, comparing families using Dairyathlon to those using the Canadian Food Guide (CFG). Children and parents completed the questionnaire after the presentation of the platform (PRE) and following eight weeks of use (POST). AttrakDiff evaluates pragmatic quality (PQ), hedonic stimulation (HSQ), hedonic identity (HIQ), and attractiveness (ATT) on a scale from -3 to +3, with >1 considered optimal, 0–1 acceptable, and < 0 suboptimal. Results: Between April 2019 and August 2020, Dairyathlon was developed to enhance families’ attitudes and perceived control over dairy consumption, adhering to the IDEAS framework. Users experience assessments were conducted among 29 families and showed significantly higher scores for Dairyathlon compared to the reference platform (CFG) at both pre- and post-assessments (P < .001). Although both platforms were initially rated as optimal, user experience ratings decreased after use: PRE (1.7 ± 0.6) to POST (1.4 ± 0.8) in the Dairyathlon group (mean difference of 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2, 0.7, P =.002), and (1.4 ± 0.6) to (0.9 ± 0.6) in the CFG group (mean difference = 0.6, 95% CI: 0.5, 0.6, P

Industry representatives highlight economic impact and seek improved market access, export funding, and science-based regulations for American wines

Industry representatives highlight economic impact and seek improved market access, export funding, and science-based regulations for American wines

Nutrition experts say add more greens and beans to your diet; cooking classes can teach people to make these nutrient-dense foods taste delicious.

Most current dietary guidelines for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) recommend the consumption of low-fat dairy in place of regular-fat…

Lawmakers demand transparency from health agencies as conflicting expert panels spark debate over future federal alcohol recommendations

Lawmakers demand transparency from health agencies as conflicting expert panels spark debate over future federal alcohol recommendations

The vast amount of online health resources accessible to the public and the pregnant population shows their high interest in using online health resources for t...

Blending whole fruits into smoothies may reduce glycemic spikes compared to eating fruit whole or drinking juice, especially when seeds are included. Researchers urge a re-evaluation of public health ...