Premium
An Internet based, combined assessment and personalized educational module aimed at increasing dietary fiber intake
Author(s) -
Leefeldt Anja,
Fang Chengshun
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a303-c
Subject(s) - dietary fiber , medicine , body mass index , food intake , whole grains , zoology , food science , biology
Adequate consumption of dietary fiber has been associated with many health benefits. Unfortunately, most Americans do not consume adequate amounts of dietary fiber. We developed a personalized, Internet based educational module for college students to be used together with a previously validated, abbreviated food frequency questionnaire (AFFQ) for dietary fiber. Invitations to participate were sent to 10,000 college students. Members of the control group (n=791) completed only the AFFQ. Treatment group members (n=655) completed the AFFQ and educational module. This module includes information on the importance of dietary fiber, intake recommendations, dietary sources, how to include it in a “college‐student friendly” diet, and goal setting. The information was personalized based on each participant's answers on the AFFQ. At baseline, mean age, body mass index (BMI) and total fiber intake did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. Approximately 1 month later, 901 individuals who completed the first phase repeated the AFFQ to assess changes in fiber intake. Mean total dietary fiber intake among female treatment group members (n=284) increased from 19.7 g/day to 21 g/day (P<0.01); that of male treatment group members (n=105) from 20.7 g/day to 22.9 g/day (P<0.05). Mean total dietary fiber intake for female control group members (n=382) decreased from 19.7 g/day to 17.9 g/day (P<0.05), and remained unchanged for male control group members. For female and male treatment group members, whole grain and legume intake increased significantly. These results suggest that the educational module was successful at improving dietary fiber intake. The design for this educational tool may be useful for other nutrition topics and/or other populations.