Abstract
Purpose
To determine the effectiveness of social media-based interventions in promoting positive
changes in nutrition behaviors amongst adolescents, and identify the behavior change
technique(s) (BCT(s)) that were used in effective interventions.
Methods
MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Cinahl, and Cochrane library were systematically searched.
Eligible studies included: participants aged 13–18 years; use of one or more social
media platform(s) in the intervention; a comparison group not exposed to the social
media-based intervention; nutrition- and diet-related behavior outcome(s); and an
experimental study design. BCTs were identified using a behavior change taxonomy.
Quality and risk of bias assessments were also conducted.
Results
Seven eligible interventions were included, varying from internet-only programs to
in-person programs with internet or website-based component(s). Studies used relatively
outdated forms of social media such as purpose-built discussion boards or chat rooms
rather than commercial social media interfaces (e.g. Facebook). Five of the seven
interventions demonstrated improvements in at least one nutrition behavior. The most
common improvement was for fruit or vegetable intake, and two of four studies showed
improvements for sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. The most common BCT used was
social support, followed by demonstration of behavior, self-monitoring, goal setting,
and feedback.
Conclusions
The current evidence base is equivocal with respect to changing overall dietary behaviors,
as increasing intakes of desirable food groups were more successful than decreasing
unfavorable food habits. Further research using better quality interventions, full
description of the BCTs, long-term follow-up, and popular contemporary social media
platforms to build the evidence base are required.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 06, 2018
Accepted:
June 10,
2018
Received:
December 12,
2017
Footnotes
Conflicts of interest: The authors have no other conflicts of interest to disclose.
PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews registration: 42017056498.
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. All rights reserved.
