Assessment and Educational Intervention to Reduce Ultra-processed Food Consumption in Pediatric Patients With IBD
This study explores whether simple nutrition education can help children and teens with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) eat fewer ultra-processed foods (UPFs). UPFs include packaged snacks, sugary drinks, and fast food-items that are high in added sugars, fats, and artificial ingredients. Participants will complete online food recalls to measure what they eat and will then receive either nutrition handouts alone or handouts plus a short educational video about UPFs. Researchers will compare changes in UPF intake between the two groups after several weeks and ask families how useful and acceptable they found the materials. The goal is to identify an effective, practical way to support healthier eating habits and long-term gut health in pediatric IBD.
• Diagnosis of IBD (Crohn's disease, Ulcerative Colitis, IBD-U) for at least 3 months
• Age 10 through \< 22 years at the time of enrollment (i.e., up to the day before the 22nd birthday)
• Followed by a gastroenterologist at Connecticut Children's
• IBD in clinical remission based on calculated PUCAI score \<10 or PCDAI score of \<10
• Receiving medical infusions at CCMC Infusion Center as part of IBD treatment
• Participants must be on full oral intake and not have major dietary restrictions or require oral nutrition supplements