In the field of human nutrition, randomized controlled trials are considered the gold standard for establishing causal relationships between exposure to nutrients, foods, or dietary patterns and prespecified outcome measures, such as body composition or biomarkers. However, changing dietary behaviours and adherence to interventions are critical to the success of these trials. Yet, few dietary interventions aimed at changing behaviours are designed to effectively promote change. Nutrition interventions developed using behaviour theory are more effective than those without theoretical underpinnings. This session will highlight the importance of considering behavioural science methods and frameworks when developing behavioural nutrition interventions. Application of behavioural science in interventions to translate dietary patterns will be discussed as strategies to effect sustained dietary change, along with the integration of community-based approaches to inform inclusivity.
Dr. Tamara Cohen is an Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems. Her research uses methodological frameworks from behavioural sciences to develop nutrition-focused interventions that focus on improving dietary behaviours across the lifespan. Her work involves examining how dietary self-monitoring using a smartphone app that is based on the new Canada’s Food Guide, will improve dietary behaviours of adults who live with varying levels of health literacy. Additionally, work that will include creating nutrition education resources and clinical dialogue tools will inform improvements to dietetic practice and improve provincially-funded programs that focus on modulating dietary behaviour change. Her research often includes patient-partners and Advisory Panels to guide the research questions and designs.