Healthcare workers like doctors and nurses often eat unhealthy processed foods because of long shifts, stress, and limited access to fresh food at work. Researchers created a 6-month program to help them eat less processed food and exercise more. The program uses personalized coaching, helpful resources, and a mobile website to support real-world changes. This study describes how the program was designed and built, using proven behavior-change methods. The next step will be testing whether the program actually works and if people find it helpful and easy to use.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether a specially designed 6-month support program can help healthcare workers eat fewer processed foods and be more physically active
  • Who participated: UK healthcare workers (doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff) who had already completed the first part of the study, which involved eating controlled diets in a lab setting
  • Key finding: Researchers created a comprehensive intervention program combining one-on-one coaching, group sessions, digital tools, and a mobile website specifically designed to help healthcare workers reduce processed food intake and increase exercise in their real lives
  • What it means for you: If you work in healthcare, this suggests a tailored program might help you make healthier eating and exercise choices despite your busy schedule. However, the actual effectiveness hasn’t been tested yet—this paper describes the program design, not the results

The Research Details

This study is the second stage of a two-part research project. In the first stage (already completed), researchers had healthcare workers eat either highly processed foods or minimally processed foods in a controlled setting to see how each affected their health. Now in stage 2, the researchers created a real-world support program to help these same people reduce processed foods and increase physical activity in their everyday lives. The program was designed using a scientific framework called the ‘behavior change wheel,’ which is a proven method for creating programs that actually help people change their habits. The intervention includes personalized one-on-one coaching sessions, group support meetings, custom digital tools, printed resources, and a mobile-friendly website that workers can access anytime.

Healthcare workers face unique challenges—irregular schedules, high stress, and limited access to healthy food options at work—that make them more likely to eat processed foods. By creating a program specifically designed for their situation, researchers can test whether targeted support works better than generic health advice. Using the behavior change wheel ensures the program is built on scientific evidence about how people actually change their habits.

This paper is a study protocol, meaning it describes the plan before testing it. The research was approved by an ethics committee, which means independent experts reviewed it to ensure it’s safe and ethical. The program design was based on established scientific frameworks for behavior change, which increases confidence in the approach. However, this paper doesn’t yet show whether the program actually works—that will come in future publications when they analyze the results.

What the Results Show

This paper doesn’t present results yet—it’s a detailed description of how the intervention was created and what it includes. The researchers developed a comprehensive 6-month program with multiple components: personalized coaching sessions tailored to each person’s situation, group support meetings for shared learning and motivation, custom digital resources and a mobile website for easy access, and printed materials for reference. The program specifically targets reducing ultra-processed foods (like packaged snacks, fast food, and sugary drinks) while increasing minimally processed foods (like fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and home-cooked meals) and physical activity. The program was built using the behavior change wheel framework, which systematically identifies what barriers people face and what types of support help them overcome those barriers.

The researchers incorporated the ‘capability, opportunity, and motivation’ model into their program design. This means they addressed three key areas: capability (giving people the knowledge and skills to make healthy choices), opportunity (making it easier to access healthy foods and exercise despite busy schedules), and motivation (providing encouragement and support). The program was specifically tailored for healthcare workers’ unique circumstances, including their irregular schedules and workplace environment.

This is the first intervention specifically designed for healthcare workers to reduce processed food intake. Previous research has shown that processed foods are linked to weight gain and poor health, and that healthcare workers eat more of these foods than the general population due to work conditions. This study builds on that knowledge by creating a targeted solution rather than using generic health programs.

This paper describes the program design but doesn’t yet show whether it actually works. The actual effectiveness and whether people find it acceptable and easy to use will be reported in future papers. The program is being tested in the UK, so results may not apply exactly the same way in other countries with different food systems and work environments. We don’t yet know how many people will participate or complete the full 6-month program.

The Bottom Line

This research is still in progress, so specific recommendations aren’t available yet. However, the program design suggests that healthcare workers struggling with processed food intake may benefit from personalized support, group coaching, and digital tools tailored to their work schedules. Wait for the results paper before making decisions based on this research. (Confidence level: Low—this is a program description, not proven results)

Healthcare workers (doctors, nurses, hospital staff) who struggle with eating processed foods due to work schedules and stress should pay attention to future results. People with similar work challenges (shift workers, busy professionals) might also find the approach helpful. This research is less relevant for people with flexible schedules and easy access to healthy food.

The intervention lasts 6 months, but real behavior change often takes longer to stick. Most people would need to continue the habits beyond the program to see lasting health benefits. Results from this study should be available within 1-2 years.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily processed food intake by logging meals and rating them as ‘highly processed,’ ‘moderately processed,’ or ‘minimally processed.’ Also track weekly physical activity minutes to monitor progress toward both goals
  • Use the app to set a specific, achievable goal like ‘Replace one processed snack with a whole food snack each day’ or ‘Add 30 minutes of movement three times per week.’ Get reminders and encouragement through push notifications timed to your work schedule
  • Weekly check-ins to review your food and activity logs, identify patterns (like which shifts make healthy eating harder), and adjust your goals. Monthly summaries showing progress over time to maintain motivation and celebrate small wins

This paper describes a research program design, not proven results. The actual effectiveness of this intervention has not yet been tested or published. Do not make health decisions based on this study protocol alone. Always consult with your doctor or registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or exercise routine, especially if you have existing health conditions. This research is specific to UK healthcare workers and may not apply equally to other populations or countries. Future publications will provide actual results and evidence of effectiveness.