School-Based Behaviour Change Intervention to Reduce Ultra-Processed Food Consumption among Adolescents: Evidence from A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial in India

This dataset is of a study addressing the rising consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) among adolescents, a major public health challenge linked to poor diet quality and health risks. Conducted in 12 public schools in Chandigarh, India, the cluster-randomized controlled trial targeted Grade 8 students and their parents using an intervention guided by the PRECEDE–PROCEED Model. Over six months, adolescents attended eleven sessions, and parents participated in one educational session. Results showed a significant reduction in adolescents' UPF consumption by 237 g/day, though no notable changes were observed in minimally or processed food intake. Among parents, minimally processed food consumption increased by 149 g/day without significant changes in UPF or processed food intake. The study highlights the feasibility and potential of school-based interventions in reducing UPF consumption, filling a critical gap in public health strategies in low- and middle-income countries.