Identification of Effective Behaviour Change Techniques in Dietary Interventions for Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify the most effective behaviour change techniques (BCTs) used in dietary behaviour interventions with early to mid adolescents, with the objective of applying these to reinforce healthy diet behaviours and to intervene when undesirable diet behaviours emerge at this critical time in their development. Searches were executed in CINAHL, Cochrane, Dental and Oral Sciences Source, EMBASE, Medline, PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science. Eligibility included randomised, controlled, quasi-experimental or pre-post testing dietary intervention studies aiming to change dietary outcomes of individual adolescents aged 10-16 years, and using a control group or pre-post testing. BCTs were identified and coded using an internationally acknowledged taxonomy. Quality appraisal was also conducted. Thirty-two eligible interventions were identified for inclusion and twenty-five of the interventions reported significant improvement in at least one dietary behaviour from baseline and compared to the control group. The most common dietary behaviours examined in the interventions were fruit and vegetable intake and reduction in sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs). The most frequent and effective BCTs identified were Demonstration of the Behaviour, Adding Objects to the Environment, Behavioural Practice/ Rehearsal and Instruction on How to Perform a Behaviour. The studies varied in complexity, length and description of interventions, and the majority had only short follow up periods. To build a more solid evidence base around effective behaviour change techniques for adolescents, current health behaviour change research could be used to design and describe interventions and also to track maintenance of behaviours after the intervention has ended.