The Effectiveness of Blogging as a Tool to Improve Dietary Intake in College Students
Open Access
Author:
Liguori, Carli Ann
Area of Honors:
Nutritional Sciences
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Mary Dean Coleman, Thesis Supervisor Rebecca L Corwin, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Blogging College Students Dietary Intake Behavior Change
Abstract:
For the purposes of this study, a blogging intervention was designed around the principles of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 and was administered to college age individuals enrolled in an introductory nutrition course. The blogging group (n=91) completed a series of blogs over the course of ten weeks and set goals for dietary behavior change. The control group (n=62) submitted an alternative reflective assignment. Both groups completed a 3-day diet record and entered it into a diet analysis software program.
At the completion of the study, the blogging group increased their intake of fruit (P<.05), vegetables (P<.05), calcium (P<.05), and potassium (P<.05) and decreased intake of saturated fat (P<.05). The control group showed no significant changes. When comparing the changes in dietary intake between the two groups a tendency toward significance in fruit intake was seen (P=.059).
When surveyed about their perceptions of the blog, 90% of participants said they responded honestly to the prompts for each blog. Seventy percent of participants indicated that they created habits for at least 3 goals. The most common goals achieved were increased fruit intake, increased vegetable intake, and increased physical activity.
The use of blogging and goal setting as a tool to improve dietary intake in college students has been shown to be promising, however, it does require further exploration.
