Process evaluation of project webhealth: A nondieting web-based intervention for obesity prevention in college students
Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
7-1-2013
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the motivational effect of the Project WebHealth study procedures and intervention components on weight-related health behavior changes in male and female college students. Design: Process evaluation. Setting: Eight universities in the United States. Participants: Project WebHealth participants (n = 653; 29% men). Main Outcome Measures: Participants rated motivational effects of study procedures and intervention components. Participants were grouped into outcome-based health behavior categories based on achievement of desired targets for fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity, and/or body weight. Analysis: Differences in motivation from each procedure and component were analyzed by gender- and outcome-based health behavior category. Results: Women were generally more motivated than men. Compared to those who did not meet any target health behaviors, men with improved health outcomes (68%) were significantly more motivated by the skills to fuel the body lesson, goal setting, and research snippets. Their female counterparts (63%) were significantly more motivated by the lessons on body size and eating enjoyment, and by the suggested weekly activities. Conclusions and Implications: Specific study procedures and components of Project WebHealth motivated study participants to improve their weight-related health behaviors, and they differed by gender. Findings support the need for gender-tailored interventions in this population. © 2013 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior.
Publication Title, e.g., Journal
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
Volume
45
Issue
4
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Dour, Colleen A., Tanya M. Horacek, Susan M. Schembre, Barbara Lohse, Sharon Hoerr, Kendra Kattelmann, Adrienne A. White, Suzanne Shoff, Beatrice Phillips, and Geoffrey Greene. "Process evaluation of project webhealth: A nondieting web-based intervention for obesity prevention in college students." Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior 45, 4 (2013): 288-295. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2012.10.001.