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EatWellNow: Formative development of a place-based behavioral “nudge” technology intervention to promote healthier food purchases among army soldiers
Obesity remains a significant concern within military populations, affecting approximately 17% of service members. A crucial aspect of addressing this issue is understanding how military personnel interact with their food environment. Recent investigations among army soldiers indicate a notable lack of awareness regarding the availability of healthy food options on military posts.
To tackle these challenges, innovative methods have been proposed. Geofencing, which enables the delivery of banner advertisements linked to websites, and Bluetooth beacons, which send real-time messages to mobile devices within specific areas, offer promising avenues for raising health awareness. However, the literature examining the practicality of such interventions in promoting healthier behaviors in food retail settings remains sparse.
To bridge this gap, we conducted a formative feasibility study focused on the EatWellNow initiative at a military post. This initiative aims to create an interactive food environment that employs contextual messaging to influence food purchasing decisions. Our evaluation metrics emphasized process efficiency, resource allocation, management, and scientific validity. In conjunction with this feasibility study, we also analyzed results from a community health assessment survey conducted with 3,281 respondents from Fort Bragg. The findings revealed that a substantial majority, 64.5%, expressed interest in receiving push notifications about healthy food options available on post. Additionally, 68.3% of participants believed that such notifications would help them make healthier dietary choices.
The development of the EatWellNow initiative was characterized by successful cross-sector collaboration and garnered positive feedback within the military context, indicating its feasibility. Subsequent research should focus on the effects of the EatWellNow program on food purchasing patterns and dietary habits among military service members. [NPID: Military, Geofencing, food purchasing decisions, push notifications, Fort Bragg]
Year: 2026
