Multiple therapeutic dietary patterns (e.g. Portfolio, low glycemic index, Mediterranean, DASH) are recommended in clinical practice guidelines for the prevention and management of non-communicable chronic diseases. However, effectively translating these dietary patterns into clinical practice is challenging. To address this implementation gap, there is a need for translational programs, both co-designed with interest-holders and integrated with behavioural change theories to support sustainable dietary changes and broad uptake. This talk will present examples of newly co-designed behavioural intervention programs that translate dietary patterns (Portfolio and low glycemic index diets) into equitable application among diverse communities. The co-design of randomized controlled trials with behavioural theory to assess the implementation of these programs across various settings will also be presented. Specific examples demonstrating how behaviour change theory is integrated in both the design of these trials and interventions will be reviewed. By examining how diverse interest-holders and behavioural theories are integrated throughout the research process including in behavioural intervention design, attendees of this talk will understand how effective and inclusive solutions to public health challenges can be created and implemented.
Dr. Laura Chiavaroli is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto and Affiliate Scientist at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital. Dr. Chiavaroli’s research program addresses the important implementation gap between guidelines-based nutrition therapy for cardiometabolic diseases and effective strategies to mobilize them, while also addressing the equity gap. She leads large interdisciplinary teams in the co-design and testing of innovative implementation strategies leveraging the use of digital tools and randomized trials to drive effective policies and programs related to dietary patterns for cardiometabolic disease across diverse communities. She also tests new policy enhancements to support adherence and demonstrates novel applications of methods to improve assessments of social and gender determinants of health, to identify communities to target and provide evidence to drive inclusivity in guidelines and advance health equity. She has authored over 90 publications and holds several grants, including multiple grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. She was recently awarded the 2024 American Society for Nutrition Mead Johnson Award for outstanding research from a young investigator.