University of Georgia Mind Your Heart Pilot Study

University of Georgia Mind Your Heart Pilot Study

The goal of this observational study is to learn if nutrition education can improve eating habits and health outcomes in adults. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. Does participation in a 6-week nutrition education program improve dietary behaviors?
2. Does participation in the program improve health measures such as blood lipids, blood pressure, and eye nutrient levels?

Participants will:

1. Visit the Institute of Gerontology at the beginning and end of the 6-week study for:

   • Blood draws to measure blood lipids (e.g., cholesterol)
   • Blood pressure measurement
   • Eye exams to assess nutrient levels
   • Completion of questionnaires about dietary habits

2. Complete online questionnaires before and after the study period

3. Participate in the Mind Your Heart program by reviewing 6 online modules over 6 weeks (approximately 20-30 minutes per module)

This study examines the efficacy of a 6-week, web-based nutrition education intervention (Mind Your Heart) on dietary behaviors and cardiometabolic health outcomes. The intervention is delivered via the University of Georgia e-Learning Commons (eLC) platform and incorporates evidence-based nutrition education and behavior change strategies.

Participants (UGA employees ≥18 years) are assigned to one of two virtual delivery approaches for the educational content. The intervention consists of six structured modules (approximately 20-30 minutes each), completed over a 6-week period.

Repeated measures are collected to assess behavioral and physiological change. Dietary behaviors and health habits are evaluated using validated self-report instruments administered via Qualtrics at baseline and post-intervention. To capture real-time eating behaviors, participants complete brief mobile-delivered questionnaires three times per week (two weekdays, one weekend day), totaling up to 18 assessments over the intervention period.

Objective health outcomes are assessed at baseline and follow-up laboratory visits and include cardiometabolic and nutritional biomarkers. Measures include venous blood sampling for lipid profiles, resting blood pressure, anthropometrics (height, weight, body composition), and ocular biomarkers (e.g., macular pigment optical density) as an index of nutrient status.

Dietary intake tracking is supported using a third-party application (MyFitnessPal), enabling complementary assessment of dietary patterns. Data are linked using unique study identifiers to ensure confidentiality. Integrated analyses will evaluate changes over time in behavioral and physiological outcomes and examine associations between intervention engagement, dietary behavior, and health indicators.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults aged 18 years and older
• Current University of Georgia (UGA) employees
• Able to provide informed consent
• Willing to complete online nutrition education modules over a 6-week period
• Willing to attend in-person study visits for baseline and follow-up assessments
• Willing to provide blood samples, blood pressure measurements, and complete eye exams
• Willing to complete online and mobile-based questionnaires
• Access to an internet-enabled device and a mobile phone for surveys and program

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unable to complete study procedures, including online modules or in-person visits
• Medical or other conditions that would preclude safe participation in study procedures (e.g., blood draw)
• Lack of access to required technology (internet or mobile phone) for participation