Rationale: Sufficient dietary protein intake helps to preserve muscle mass and strength and is a key factor in healthy ageing. Achieving an increased protein intake with regular food products has shown to be a challenge for many older adults. Applying behavioural change techniques may facilitate a more sustained improvement in protein consumption over time. Objective: To investigate whether a nutritional app intervention can increase the protein intake (with the goal of 1.2 g/kg body weight/day) of older adults, using readily available food products. Secondary and tertiary objective include the effects of the intervention on body composition and muscle strength and long-term effects on protein intake.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
140
Coaching involves e-coaching via an app, supported by one telephone consultation. Within the SO-NUTS (preventing obesity, sarcopenia, and Sarcopenic Obesity in retirement through digital, personalised interventions for healthy NUTrition and physical activity for Seniors) project, BCTs are investigated that fit the older adult population. Insights gained from systematic review and focus group interviews are applied to the Eifit application.
The objective is to adhere to the 2017 physical activity guidelines as set by the Health Council of the Netherlands i.e. "Engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week, perform muscle- and bone-strengthening activities at least twice a week in combination with balance exercises, and avoid prolonged periods of sitting." Participants in both groups have access to the application that contains a wide range of muscle and bone-strengthening activities, as well as balance exercises that can be performed independently at home. Activities such as walking, cycling, tennis, or swimming can also be added. Participants can monitor their progress themselves, and if desired, push notifications, tips, and reminders can be sent.
Radboudumc
Nijmegen, Netherlands
protein intake
Δprotein intake relative to bodyweight (g/kg/d)
Time frame: baseline (0 months), post-intervention (3 months) and follow-up (6 months)
muscle mass
muscle mass (kg) (Body Impedance Analysis BIA)
Time frame: baseline (0 months), post-intervention (3 months) and follow-up (6 months)
Leg muscle strength
1RM leg press (kg). A submaximal protocol will be used of around 8-10 repetitions. The Bryzcki formula (Jacobsen F, Holten O, Faugli H, Leirvik R. Medical exercise therapy. Manual therapy in Norway. 1992;7:19-22.): 1RM = weight (kg) / (1,0278 - (0,0278 x number of repetitions)) will be used to determine the 1RM.
Time frame: [Time Frame: baseline (0 months), post-intervention (3 months) and follow-up (6 months)]
Attitude towards physical activity
Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ). 12 items with a 5-point Likert scale: totally disagree; disagree; neutral; agree; totally agree. The items relate to 6 types of motivation: from amotivation to different types of external motivation to intrinsic motivation. It concerns a continuum from extrinsic to intrinsic motivation, where higher scores indicate more autonomous motivation, such as doing something because you find it important for yourself (integrated regulation).
Time frame: [Time Frame: baseline (0 months), post-intervention (3 months) and follow-up (6 months)]
Attitude towards a healthy diet
Regulation of Eating Behavior Scale (REBS). 12 items with a 5-point Likert scale: totally disagree (1); disagree; neutral; agree; totally agree (5). The items relate to 6 types of motivation: from amotivation to different types of external motivation to intrinsic motivation. It concerns a continuum from extrinsic to intrinsic motivation, where higher scores indicate more autonomous motivation, such as doing something because you find it important for yourself (integrated regulation).
Time frame: [Time Frame: baseline (0 months), post-intervention (3 months) and follow-up (6 months)]
Functional leg muscle strength
timed Chair-Stand (s)
Time frame: [Time Frame: baseline (0 months), post-intervention (3 months) and follow-up (6 months)]
user-friendliness of the eHealth application
SUS questionnaire (SUS is a 10-item questionnaire with 5 response options (based on the Likert scale)). A higher score means a higher usability.
Time frame: post-intervention (3 months after the start)
usability of the eHealth application
Usefulness, Satisfaction, and Ease of use Questionnaire (USE). A 30-item questionnaire with a 5-point Likert scale ranging from: strongly disagree to strongly agree.
Time frame: post-intervention (3 months after the start)
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