Capitalizing on mobile technology to support healthy eating in ethnic minority college students. Issue 2 (17th February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rodgers, Rachel F.; Pernal, Wendy; Matsumoto, Atsushi; Shiyko, Mariya; Intille, Stephen; Franko, Debra L.
• Is Part Of: Journal of American college health. Volume 64:Issue 2(2016)
• Page Start: 125
• Page End: 132
• Publication Date: 2016-02-17
• Subjects: College; ethnicity -- healthy eating -- mobile technology -- nutrition; College students -- Health and hygiene -- United States -- Periodicals; College students -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; College students -- Mental health -- Periodicals; Universities and colleges -- Health promotion services -- Periodicals; 362.10883781980973
• DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2015.1085055
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0744-8481

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Objective : To evaluate the capacity of a mobile technology–based intervention to support healthy eating among ethnic minority female students.Participants : Forty-three African American and Hispanic female students participated in a 3-week intervention between January and May 2013.Methods : Participants photographed their meals using their smart phone camera and received motivational text messages 3 times a day. At baseline, postintervention, and 10 weeks after the intervention, participants reported on fruit, vegetable, and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. Participants were also weighed at baseline.Results : Among participants with body mass index (BMI) ≥25, fruit and vegetable consumption increased with time ( p < .01). Among participants with BMI <21, consumption of fruit decreased ( p < .05), whereas the consumption of vegetables remained stable. No effects were found for sugar-sweetened beverage consumption.Conclusion : Mobile technology–based interventions could facilitate healthy eating among female ethnic minority college students, particularly those with higher BMI.