Communications of the ACM
Smart Phones, Social Media Encourage Healthy Habits
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Smart phones and social media may help college-age adults make healthier choices when it comes to food and physical activity, according to Kendra Kattelmann, professor of health sciences and nutrition and director of the South Dakota State University dietetics program.
Kattelmann was the lead researcher for the Young Adults Eating and Active for Health (YEAH) project, a 15- month study funded through a $1.5 million Agriculture and Food Research Initiative grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that involved researchers from 13 other universities. Her findings are described in "The Effects of Young Adults Eating and Active for Health (YEAH): A Theory-Based Web-Delivered Intervention," published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.
First, Kattelmann and her colleagues identified key challenges that face 18- to 24-year-olds who are transitioning from living at home to the dorms or off-campus housing and establishing their independence — managing time and dealing with stress from classes, relationships, and living circumstances. The researchers then developed a theory-based, Web-delivered program to promote healthy behaviors.
Though the researchers recorded the weight and body mass index (BMI) of the 1,639 second-semester college freshmen, Kattelmann says the emphasis was on health promotion, rather than weight loss. Two-thirds of the participants were within normal BMI ranges, which mirrors the national college-age population.
Based on the participants’ responses, 80 percent met the goal of 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week before the study began. In addition, they were encouraged to consume five cups of fruits and vegetables per day and manage stress on most days.
Lessons, Encouragement
Participants on each campus were divided into intervention and control groups. The intervention groups received lessons on eating, exercise, and stress management via the Internet over a 10-week period, according to Kattelmann. In that time frame, email "nudges" along with a short video delivered four times a week reminded the students about their targeted goals and behaviors. These decreased to one per week for the next 10 months after the lessons ended.
Results showed that the students had no significant changes in weight, Kattelmann says, noting the goal was to improve eating and exercise habits. The participants "increased their intention to consume healthy foods at mealtimes and for snacks," she says.
Those who received the targeted messages ate 0.2 cups more fruits and vegetables daily. The females in the intervention groups also engaged in slightly more rigorous physical activity than those in the control group.
Preparing healthy meals and staying physically active takes time and does not create economic wealth, but long term may save money in health care costs, Kattelmann says. "Developing behaviors for meal preparation, snack preparation, and food choices doesn’t come easy unless it’s a habit."
Kattelmann continues: "In a world where we have decreased activities levels due to technology plus easy access to pre-prepared food, young people will have to make mindful choices to prevent obesity-related illnesses."
The Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior article is authored by Kendra K. Kattelmann, Carol Byrd Bredbenner, Adrienne A. White, Geoffrey W. Greene, Sharon L. Hoerr, Tandalayo Kidd, Sarah Colby, Tanya M. Horacek, Beatrice W. Phillips, Mallory M. Koenings, Onikia N. Brown, Melissa D. Olfert, Karla P. Shelnutt, and Jesse Stabile Morrell.
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