Developing a nutritional intervention to increase cereal fibre intakes in UK South Asian children (360G-Wellcome-200611_Z_16_Z)

High rates of type 2 diabetes (T2D) represent a major public health challenge both nationally and globally. Within the UK, South Asian adults have high T2D risks, while South Asian children already have higher insulin resistance (a precursor of T2D risk). Observational studies in adults suggest that increasing cereal fibre intake may reduce T2D risk; I have shown in children aged 9-10 years that regular consumption of a high fibre breakfast cereal is associated with lower insulin resistance. A `proof of concept’ efficacy trial is needed to examine whether increasing cereal fibre intake reduces insulin resistance in children. The present proposal will prepare for such a trial by developing and evaluating the acceptability, feasibility and fidelity of an intervention to increase breakfast cereal fibre intake in South Asian children aged 9-10 years. Key goals include i) developing and assessing acceptability of the intervention using quantitative surveys, palatability tests and focus groups in children and parents, and ii) examining intervention fidelity in an RCT using objective as well as subjective markers of fibre intake. The results will underpin the development of a definitive efficacy trial examining the effects of increasing breakfast cereal fibre intake on insulin resistance in children.