RECRUITINGOBSERVATIONAL

Assessment and Educational Intervention to Reduce Ultra-processed Food Consumption in Pediatric Patients With IBD

About This Trial

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.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: - 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 Who Should NOT Join This Trial: - Following a medically prescribed or restrictive diet such as Crohn's Disease Exclusion Diet (CDED), ketogenic diet, Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD), low FODMAP diet, gluten-free diet, paleo, or Whole30. - Receiving any nutrition through feeding tubes (including nasogastric \[NG\], nasojejunal \[NJ\], gastrostomy \[G\], or gastrojejunostomy \[GJ\] tubes) - History of bowel surgery within 3 months of study start affecting ability to sustain normal enteral intake - Non-English-speaking participants (as translation and short-form consent processes will not be used for this study) Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language

Inclusion Criteria: * 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 Exclusion Criteria: * Following a medically prescribed or restrictive diet such as Crohn's Disease Exclusion Diet (CDED), ketogenic diet, Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD), low FODMAP diet, gluten-free diet, paleo, or Whole30. * Receiving any nutrition through feeding tubes (including nasogastric \[NG\], nasojejunal \[NJ\], gastrostomy \[G\], or gastrojejunostomy \[GJ\] tubes) * History of bowel surgery within 3 months of study start affecting ability to sustain normal enteral intake * Non-English-speaking participants (as translation and short-form consent processes will not be used for this study)

Treatments Being Tested

BEHAVIORAL

Handout-Only Intervention

Participants receive written nutrition handouts explaining what ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are, how to identify them, and practical strategies to reduce UPF intake.

BEHAVIORAL

Handout + Video Intervention

Participants receive the same nutrition handouts plus a short educational video reinforcing key messages about UPFs and healthy eating choices.

Locations (1)

Connecticut Children's Medical Center

Hartford, Connecticut, United States