The effect of an app-based dietary intervention on diet-related greenhouse gas emissions – results from a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Dietary change towards a diet low in greenhouse gas emissions (GHGEs) can reduce climate impact and improve individual-level health. However, there is a lack of understanding if diet interventions can achieve low-GHGE diets. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted to assess the effects of an app-based intervention. The intervention was designed to improve dietary intake of people with Type 2 diabetes, and was delivered via an app over 12 weeks, with each week covering one diet-related topic. Dietary intake was assessed at baseline and 3-month follow up by a 95-item food frequency questionnaire and linked to GHGE values. A total of n = 93 participants (n = 46 and n = 47 for the intervention and control group, respectively) were included in the analysis. Changes to GHGEs within and between the groups were analysed with inferential statistics. RESULTS: The majority (60%) of participants were male, with a mean age of 63.2 years and body mass index of 30 kg/m(2). At baseline, diet-related GHGEs were 4.8 and 4.9 kg CO(2)-eq/day in the intervention and control group, respectively. At 3-month follow up the corresponding GHGEs were 4.7 and 4.9 kg CO(2)-eq/day. We found no statistically significant changes to diet-related GHGEs within or between groups, or within food categories, from baseline to 3-month follow up. CONCLUSION: No evidence was found for the effectiveness of the app-based intervention to generate changes to diet-related GHGEs in a population of people with Type 2 diabetes. However, future interventions that target reducing meat consumption specifically may have the potential to result in a reduction of individual-level diet-related GHGEs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03784612. Registered 24 December 2018. www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03784612. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12966-023-01523-0.