Despite growing evidence of the benefits of adequate intake of fruit and vegetables (F&V) and the recommendation to consume five servings daily, the adoption of these habits is poor among people with severe mental disorder (SMD). The main aim of the present study is to determine changes in the intake of F&V and motivation to do so among people with SMDs after participating in a food education programme. A community-based randomized controlled trial was conducted in Spain, with the intervention group (IG) participating in a food education programme based on the stages of change model to promote consumption of F&V and the control group (CG) receiving three informative sessions on basic healthy eating. The main outcomes were related to the intake of F&V and stages of change. Data collection was performed at baseline, post intervention, and 12-month follow-up. Seventy-four participants enrolled in the study and sixty completed the 12-month follow-up. An increase in motivation towards the intake of F&V was observed in the IG but not in the CG (McNemar’s test p = 0.016, p = 0.625). No significant difference was observed for the intake of fruit, vegetables, or F&V. Basing food education strategies on the stages of change model shows positive results, increasing the awareness and disposition of people with SMD towards the intake of F&V. More research is needed to identify the most appropriate eating intervention to increase the intake of F&V.
Resumen. Introducción: La adopción de dietas de baja calidad nutricional se relaciona con la aparición de alteraciones metabólicas, factor que contribuye a la elevada tasa de comorbilidades entre las personas con TMG. Conocer los factores condicionantes permite desarrollar programas de educación alimentaria adecuados a las necesidades de la persona; Objetivos: Explorar los factores que condicionan la adopción y mantenimiento de los hábitos alimentarios, e identificar las estrategias más eficientes para el cambio de hábitos; Métodos: Estudio descriptivo mediante la recogida de datos y análisis cualitativo. Los datos se obtuvieron de la realización de 6 grupos de discusión. Se procedió a un análisis temático del corpus textual; Resultados: Participaron 23 personas vinculadas a los servicios de salud mental y 30 profesionales de los distintos ámbitos de atención. Se desprenden 6 temas principales; Conclusiones: Profesionales y usuarios coinciden en la necesidad de promocionar la alimentación saludable. Conocer la predisposición y los condicionantes para adoptar un cambio de conducta es fundamental para el diseño de intervenciones eficientes.
Objectives
The aim of this study is to determine the metabolic impact of a nutrition education program on metabolic parameters and the presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS).
Results
Seventy-four patients were included (mean age, 48.7 years [Standard deviation, SD: 10.8], 55.4% men). The diagnoses of SMD were 37.8% schizophrenia and related disorders; 29.7% bipolar disorder; 25.7% depressive disorder; 4.1% personality disorders; and 2.7% obsessive compulsive disorders. Thirty-seven individuals were distributed in both the intervention group (IG) and the control group (CG). In the IG the presence of MetS was 56.3% and in the CG 46.7%, with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.309). At the end of the study, glomerular filtrate decreased in the IG, body mass index and abdominal perimeter increased in both groups, and there were no changes in metabolic parameters between the groups. Between the baseline and the end of the study, there was no increase in the number of patients diagnosed with MetS (14 at both points); and in the CG the increase was from 8 to 12 (p = 0.005). An intervention based on fruit and vegetable intake could prevent progression to MetS in individuals with SMD, decreasing the likelihood of cardiovascular disease.
Trial registration The trial was retrospectively registered on International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN) Register on 11 March 2022 (ISRCTN12024347)
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