Nutrients · 3 authors, 3 centres
This summary was generated by AI from a single paper. It has not been reviewed by a clinician and is not clinical advice. Verify against the source before acting on it.
This systematic scoping review analyzed 31 Mediterranean diet interventions for older adults, finding that behaviour change techniques are commonly used but underutilized, with only 19 of 93 possible techniques reported. A key limitation is the lack of theoretical underpinning and potential reporting omissions in the included studies.
Mediterranean diet interventions are beneficial for older adults, but adherence is low, and understanding effective behaviour change techniques is crucial for long-term health behaviour change. Methods: This systematic scoping review searched databases from inception to August 2022, including 31 experimental studies (25 RCTs, 6 non-randomized) with participants aged ≥55 years. Behaviour change techniques were coded using the Behaviour Change Technique Taxonomy (version 1). Key Results: Across the interventions, 10 taxonomy categories and 19 techniques were reported, with a mean of 5 techniques per intervention (range 2-9). Common techniques included instruction on how to perform the behaviour (n=31), social support (n=24), providing information from a credible source (n=16), information about health consequences (n=15), and adding objects to the environment (n=12). Only 2 studies reported using behaviour change theories, and 93.5% did not report any theory. Limitations: The review is limited by potential reporting omissions in the studies, subjective coding of techniques, and the lack of theoretical underpinning in most interventions. Implications: Integrating behaviour change theories and techniques in intervention development is essential for effective targeting, replication, and translation into practice, but current interventions underutilize available techniques and lack theoretical grounding.
