scholarly journals Formative work to design a digital learning self-assessment and feedback tool to prevent weight gain among college students

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 205520762097945
Author(s):  
Melissa A Napolitano ◽  
Sarah Beth Lynch ◽  
Meghan N Mavredes ◽  
Benjamin D Shambon ◽  
Laurie Posey

Objective While colleges have implemented brief, tailored interventions for health-risk areas such as alcohol prevention, theoretically-guided digital learning offerings for weight gain prevention have lagged behind in programming and implementation. Thus, the objective was to design and usability test a weight gain prevention digital learning platform for college students with modules targeting key nutrition and physical activity behaviors. Methods Development occurred in iterative phases: formative research, descriptive normative data collection, prototype development, and usability testing. Formative research consisted of background work and survey administration to incoming and current freshmen. Prototype development was guided by theories of behavior change and cognitive processing, and consisted of brief assessment and feedback using written text, graphs, and videos. Iterative usability testing was conducted. Results Current freshmen reported eating more quick order meals per week than incoming freshman, but fewer high-fat snacks and fewer sugary beverages. Current freshmen reported more sedentary time than incoming freshmen. Based on iterative testing results, eight behavioral targets were established: breakfast, high-fat snacks, fried foods, sugary beverages, fruit/vegetables, physical activity, pizza intake, and sedentary behavior. Initial usability testers indicated the modules were easy to understand, held their attention, and were somewhat novel. Analysis of qualitative feedback revealed themes related to content, layout, structure and suggested refinements to the modules. Conclusions A gap exists for evidence-based obesity prevention programs targeted to adolescents as they transition into adulthood. Brief, tailored digital learning interventions show promise towards addressing key behavioral nutrition and physical activity targets among students during the transition to college.

2012 ◽  
Vol 36 (9) ◽  
pp. 1165-1169 ◽  
Author(s):  
E J Shiroma ◽  
H D Sesso ◽  
I-M Lee

2011 ◽  
Vol 43 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 792
Author(s):  
Eric J. Shiroma ◽  
Howard D. Sesso ◽  
I-Min Lee

Nutrients ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 209
Author(s):  
Mamaru Ayenew Awoke ◽  
Cheryce L. Harrison ◽  
Julie Martin ◽  
Marie L. Misso ◽  
Siew Lim ◽  
...  

Weight gain prevention interventions are likely to be more effective with the inclusion of behaviour change techniques. However, evidence on which behaviour change techniques (BCT) are most effective for preventing weight gain and improving lifestyle (diet and physical activity) is limited, especially in reproductive-aged adults. This meta-analysis and meta-regression aimed to identify BCT associated with changes in weight, energy intake and physical activity in reproductive-aged adults. BCT were identified using the BCT Taxonomy (v1) from each intervention. Meta-regression analyses were used to identify BCT associated with change in weight, energy intake and physical activity. Thirty-four articles were included with twenty-nine articles for the meta-analysis. Forty-three of the ninety-three possible BCT listed in the taxonomy were identified in the included studies. Feedback on behaviour and Graded tasks were significantly associated with less weight gain, and Review behaviour goals was significantly associated with lower energy intake. No individual BCT were significantly associated with physical activity. Our analysis provides further evidence for which BCT are most effective in weight gain prevention interventions. The findings support that the use of key BCT within interventions can contribute to successful weight gain prevention in adults of reproductive age.


2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (11) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreia C. Monteiro ◽  
Miljana Jeremic ◽  
Michael C. Budden

Obesity is a growing health and socioeconomic issue in the United States.  College students are an important part of the alarming statistics involving weight gain. This study investigated how nutrition behaviors and physical activity modified students’ perceptions of body weight and nutrition knowledge. Furthermore, the study assessed gender and ethnicity as modifiers of nutrition behaviors, self-perception of body weight, and exercising habits among college students.   


2007 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 790-798 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Wammes ◽  
S French ◽  
J Brug

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of and differences in self-reported occasions of overeating (such as at celebrations and other parties), compensatory behaviours and specific weight gain prevention strategies among young Dutch adults according to sociodemographics and overweight status.Design and subjectsCross-sectional data were analysed from Dutch adults aged 20–40 years, recruited from an Internet research panel (n = 857, response rate = 76.6%). Using electronic questionnaires, self-report data were collected on sociodemographics, body mass index (BMI), occasions of overeating, compensatory behaviours, and diet and physical activity used as weight gain prevention strategies. Associations were tested using multiple linear and logistic regression analyses.ResultsOf the participants, 48.6% reported occasions of overeating at least once a week during the 4-week period, 44.6% reported compensating for these occasions and 72.9% reported engaging in dietary and physical activities specifically for weight gain prevention purposes. Only 32.1% of the respondents reported using the recommended combination of diet and physical activity as a weight gain prevention strategy. In addition, results showed that overweight people (BMI ≥ 25 kg m-2) and women were more likely to report overeating than people with healthy body weights (odds ratio (OR) = 1.79; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.32–2.42) and men (OR = 1.50; 95% CI 1.14–1.97). Overweight people, women and people who regularly reported overeating were also significantly more likely to report compensatory behaviours by eating less and to report specific weight gain prevention strategies using diet and physical activity.ConclusionThe present study suggests that people experience frequent occasions of overeating and try to compensate for such occasions in different ways. However, the combination of dietary changes and physical activity recommended by experts was seldom reported.


1999 ◽  
Vol 2 (3a) ◽  
pp. 341-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arne Astrup

AbstractObservational cross-sectional and longitudinal studies suggest that a high fat diet and physical inactivity are independent risk factors for weight gain and obesity. Mechanistic and intervention studies support that fat possesses a lower satiating power than carbohydrate and protein, and a diet low in fat therefore decreases energy intake. The effect of dietary fat on energy balance is enhanced in susceptible subjects, particularly in sedentary individuals with a genetic predisposition to obesity who consume a high fat diet.Dietary carbohydrate promotes its own oxidation by an insulin-mediated stimulation of glucose oxidation. In contrast, high fat meals do not increase fat oxidation acutely. A sedentary life-style and low physical fitness cause a low muscular fat oxidation capacity, and the consumption of a high fat diet by these individuals promotes fat storage in a synergistic fashion.Ad libitum low fat diets cause weight loss proportional to pre-treatment body weight in a dose-dependent way, i.e. weight loss is correlated positively to the reduction in dietary fat content. Increased physical activity prevents relapse after weight loss and studies have shown that those who keep up a higher level of physical activity are more successful in maintaining the reduced body weight. In conclusion, important interactions exist between genetic make up, dietary fat and physical fitness, so that a low fitness level and susceptible genes reduce muscular fat oxidation capacity which may decrease the tolerance of dietary fat. Increasing daily physical activity and reducing dietary fat content may be more effective when combined than when separate in preventing weight gain and obesity.


2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 661-669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen Holm ◽  
Holly Wyatt ◽  
James Murphy ◽  
James Hill ◽  
Lorraine Odgen

Background:This study examined the association between parent and child change in physical activity during a family-based intervention for child weight gain prevention.Methods:Daily step counts were recorded for parents and children in 83 families given a goal to increase activity by 2000 steps per day above baseline. Linear mixed effects models were used to predict child change in daily step counts from parental change in step counts.Results:Both maternal (P < .0001) and paternal (P < .0001) change in step counts for the current day strongly predicted child change in step counts for that day. On average, a child took an additional 2117.6 steps above baseline on days his or her mother met her goal versus 1175.2 additional steps when the mother did not meet her goal. The respective values were 1598.0 versus 1123.1 steps for fathers. Day of week moderated the maternal effect (P = .0019), with a larger impact on Saturday and Sunday compared with weekdays. A similar but nonsignificant pattern was observed for fathers.Conclusions:Encouraging parents to increase physical activity, particularly on weekends, may be a highly effective way to leverage parental involvement in interventions to increase children’s physical activity.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica L. Unick ◽  
Wei Lang ◽  
Deborah F. Tate ◽  
Dale S. Bond ◽  
Mark A. Espeland ◽  
...  

Background. This study examines factors associated with physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviors (SB) in young adults (18–35 years) and compares objective and subjective assessment measures of PA and SB.Methods. 595 young adults (27.7±4.4years;25.5±2.6 kg/m2) enrolled in the Study of Novel Approaches to Weight Gain Prevention (SNAP) trial. Hours/day spent in SB (<1.5 METs) and minutes/week spent in bout-related moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA (MVPA; ≥3 METs and ≥10 min) were assessed using self-report and objective measures. Demographic factors associated with SB and MVPA were also explored (i.e., age, gender, BMI, ethnicity, work and relationship status, and number of children).Results. Objective MVPA (263±246 min/wk) was greater than self-report estimates (208±198 min/wk;p<0.001) and differed by156±198 min/wk at the individual level (i.e., the absolute difference). Females, overweight participants, African Americans, and those with children participated in the least amount of MVPA. Objective estimates of SB (9.1±1.8 hr/day; 64.5% of wear time) were lower than subjective estimates (10.1±3.5 hr/day;p<0.001), differing by2.6±2.5 hr/day for each participant.Conclusion. Young adults interested in weight gain prevention engage in both high levels of MVPA and SB, with participants self-reporting fewer MVPA minutes and more SB compared to objective estimates. This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01183689).


2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 837-847
Author(s):  
Megan A. McVay ◽  
Marissa L. Donahue ◽  
JeeWon Cheong ◽  
Joseph Bacon ◽  
Michael G. Perri ◽  
...  

Purpose: To determine characteristics of weight gain prevention programs that facilitate engagement. Design: Randomized factorial experiment (5 × 2). Setting: Recruited nationally online. Participants: Adults aged 18 to 75 with body mass index ≥25 who decline a behavioral weight loss intervention (n = 498). Measures: Participants were randomly presented with one of 10 possible descriptions of hypothetical, free weight gain prevention programs that were all low dose and technology-based but differed in regard to 5 behavior change targets (self-weighing only; diet only; physical activity only; combined diet, physical activity, and self-weighing; or choice between diet, physical activity, and self-weighing targets) crossed with 2 financial incentive conditions (presence or absence of incentives for self-monitoring). Participants reported willingness to join the programs, perceived program effectiveness, and reasons for declining enrollment. Analysis: Logistic regression and linear regression to test effects of program characteristics offered on willingness to initiate programs and programs’ perceived effectiveness, respectively. Content analyses for open-ended text responses. Results: Participants offered the self-weighing-only programs were more willing to initiate than those offered the programs targeting all 3 behaviors combined (50% vs 36%; odds ratio [OR] = 1.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-3.13). Participants offered the programs with financial incentives were more willing to initiate (50% vs 33%; OR = 2.08; 95% CI, 1.44-2.99) and anticipated greater intervention effectiveness (β = .34, P = .02) than those offered no financial incentives. Reasons for declining to initiate included specific program features, behavior targets, social aspects, and benefits. Conclusion: Targeting self-weighing and providing financial incentives for self-monitoring may result in greater uptake of weight gain prevention programs. Study Preregistration: https://osf.io/b9zfh , June 19, 2018.


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