Table 3.

Participant-related recommendation statements

	Mean	sd	% rated ≥ 7·0
1. Implement recruitment and advertising strategies that minimise selection bias and enhance the generalisability of the sample to the broader population.	7·94	1·87	89
2. Account for comorbidities within eligibility criteria or document and interpret outcomes in the context of recorded comorbidities.	7·78	1·51	78
3. Establish clear protocols for managing participants with eating disorders and ensure broad and appropriate trial team expertise.	7·44	2·93	83
4. Consider baseline dietary practices in exclusion criteria (e.g. high baseline diet quality).	7·28	2·13	72
5. In mental health prevention interventions, prioritise high-risk participants to guarantee a sufficient number of cases during follow-up.	7·78	2·42	78
6. Focus on populations with distinct clinical needs and a high likelihood of treatment response. Avoid the potential floor effect by diversifying beyond exclusively healthy participants.	7·89	1·76	72
7. Use structured interviews and accepted cut-offs when formulating eligibility criteria related to mental disorder symptoms.	7·83	2·09	72