A Unique Personalized Nutrition Program Facilitates Lifestyle Behavior Changes: Novel Insights from HABIT's Personalized Approach to Health (PATH) Study (P15-020-19)

A key to a successful personalized nutrition (PN) strategy is tailoring the behavior intervention to achieve sustained behavior change consistent with desired health outcomes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of a digitally-delivered, systems biology-based PN program (Habit, LLC, Oakland, CA), that included nutrition and behavior advice, and meals. In this single-arm, multi-phase, open-label study (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03424395), participants (n = 107; 67% female), 30–59 years of age, were provided a Fitbit® Activity Tracker and instructions to complete an at-home kit that included collection of DNA and capillary blood before and after (30 and 120 min) consuming a mixed macronutrient challenge beverage. Lifestyle behavior data and activity levels were collected at baseline. Participants completed a 10-week control phase and a 10-week PN program intervention phase that included tailored nutrition and behavior advice, and meals (2 meals/day, 5 days/week). Validated quality of life, perceived stress, diet self-efficacy, and eating behavior questionnaires were administered to assess behavior before and after the intervention. Data from 73 compliant participants (66% female) were included in the analysis. Anthropometric and biological results were used to categorize participants into subgroups including Protein Seekers (PS) and Range Seekers (RS). Participants reported feeling fuller faster after the intervention, relative to before (P = 0.002), which could be linked to the dietary recommendations and behavior advice. Analysis by gender showed men reported more control over their eating patterns during negative events at baseline, compared to women (P = 0.005). This difference was not evident at the end of the intervention with women reporting slightly more, and men slightly less control. PS entered the study with a higher weight and BMI (P < 0.001 for both) and reported eating more quickly than RS (P = 0.003). This difference diminished, and by the end of the intervention PS did not differ from RS which could reflect the tailored advice provided. These and other data provide novel insights on how a tailored personalized intervention that targeted food behavior may help drive positive changes in health outcomes. Habit, LLC.