Social Media Interventions for Nutrition Education Among Adolescents: Scoping Review

BackgroundAdolescence is a critical period for reinforcing healthy dietary behaviors and supporting the development of cooking skills. Social media may be an avenue for supporting these behaviors, as it is popular among adolescents and can improve access to nutrition educatio...

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Main Authors: Yalinie Kulandaivelu, Jill Hamilton, Ananya Banerjee, Anatoliy Gruzd, Barkha Patel, Jennifer Stinson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JMIR Publications 2023-07-01
Series:JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting
Online Access:https://pediatrics.jmir.org/2023/1/e36132
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author Yalinie Kulandaivelu
Jill Hamilton
Ananya Banerjee
Anatoliy Gruzd
Barkha Patel
Jennifer Stinson
author_facet Yalinie Kulandaivelu
Jill Hamilton
Ananya Banerjee
Anatoliy Gruzd
Barkha Patel
Jennifer Stinson
author_sort Yalinie Kulandaivelu
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundAdolescence is a critical period for reinforcing healthy dietary behaviors and supporting the development of cooking skills. Social media may be an avenue for supporting these behaviors, as it is popular among adolescents and can improve access to nutrition education interventions. This study sought to understand the optimal implementation of effective social media–based nutrition education interventions to inform the implementation of future social media–based nutrition education interventions. ObjectiveA scoping review of the characteristics, feasibility, effectiveness, and factors influencing social media–based nutrition education interventions for adolescents was conducted. MethodsWe searched MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and PsycINFO databases using a predefined search strategy. Primary research articles were independently screened and included if they involved adolescent populations (10-18 years old) and delivered nutrition education through social media. The information on intervention characteristics, feasibility, effectiveness, and factors influencing social media–based nutrition education interventions was extracted. ResultsA total of 28 publications out of 20,557 met the eligibility criteria. Twenty-five nutrition interventions were examined by 28 studies. Fourteen interventions used homegrown social media platforms, 8 used Facebook, and 2 used Instagram. Feasibility outcomes were infrequently reported, and the cost of intervention delivery was not reported. Engagement with interventions was variable; high engagement was not required to elicit significant improvements in dietary behaviors. Tailoring interventions, offering practical content, meaningful peer support, and involving families and communities facilitated successful interventions. Strategies to address engagement and technical issues were varied. ConclusionsEmerging evidence demonstrates that social media interventions for adolescent nutrition are acceptable and improve nutrition outcomes. Future interventions should strengthen peer support components and tailor delivery to specific populations. Further research should examine engagement, adherence, and the impact of interventions on behavioral and physical outcomes. This review is the first to examine the use of social media as the primary medium for nutrition education for adolescent populations. The analysis used in this review argues the importance of peer support in social media–based nutrition interventions and the need for user-centered design of the interventions.
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spelling doaj.art-1f067ed4b2b149d7b5d72986f66924a42023-08-29T00:05:27ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Pediatrics and Parenting2561-67222023-07-016e3613210.2196/36132Social Media Interventions for Nutrition Education Among Adolescents: Scoping ReviewYalinie Kulandaiveluhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3263-5495Jill Hamiltonhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1958-2800Ananya Banerjeehttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0241-929XAnatoliy Gruzdhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2366-5163Barkha Patelhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3966-3226Jennifer Stinsonhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9969-8052 BackgroundAdolescence is a critical period for reinforcing healthy dietary behaviors and supporting the development of cooking skills. Social media may be an avenue for supporting these behaviors, as it is popular among adolescents and can improve access to nutrition education interventions. This study sought to understand the optimal implementation of effective social media–based nutrition education interventions to inform the implementation of future social media–based nutrition education interventions. ObjectiveA scoping review of the characteristics, feasibility, effectiveness, and factors influencing social media–based nutrition education interventions for adolescents was conducted. MethodsWe searched MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and PsycINFO databases using a predefined search strategy. Primary research articles were independently screened and included if they involved adolescent populations (10-18 years old) and delivered nutrition education through social media. The information on intervention characteristics, feasibility, effectiveness, and factors influencing social media–based nutrition education interventions was extracted. ResultsA total of 28 publications out of 20,557 met the eligibility criteria. Twenty-five nutrition interventions were examined by 28 studies. Fourteen interventions used homegrown social media platforms, 8 used Facebook, and 2 used Instagram. Feasibility outcomes were infrequently reported, and the cost of intervention delivery was not reported. Engagement with interventions was variable; high engagement was not required to elicit significant improvements in dietary behaviors. Tailoring interventions, offering practical content, meaningful peer support, and involving families and communities facilitated successful interventions. Strategies to address engagement and technical issues were varied. ConclusionsEmerging evidence demonstrates that social media interventions for adolescent nutrition are acceptable and improve nutrition outcomes. Future interventions should strengthen peer support components and tailor delivery to specific populations. Further research should examine engagement, adherence, and the impact of interventions on behavioral and physical outcomes. This review is the first to examine the use of social media as the primary medium for nutrition education for adolescent populations. The analysis used in this review argues the importance of peer support in social media–based nutrition interventions and the need for user-centered design of the interventions.https://pediatrics.jmir.org/2023/1/e36132
spellingShingle Yalinie Kulandaivelu
Jill Hamilton
Ananya Banerjee
Anatoliy Gruzd
Barkha Patel
Jennifer Stinson
Social Media Interventions for Nutrition Education Among Adolescents: Scoping Review
JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting
title Social Media Interventions for Nutrition Education Among Adolescents: Scoping Review
title_full Social Media Interventions for Nutrition Education Among Adolescents: Scoping Review
title_fullStr Social Media Interventions for Nutrition Education Among Adolescents: Scoping Review
title_full_unstemmed Social Media Interventions for Nutrition Education Among Adolescents: Scoping Review
title_short Social Media Interventions for Nutrition Education Among Adolescents: Scoping Review
title_sort social media interventions for nutrition education among adolescents scoping review
url https://pediatrics.jmir.org/2023/1/e36132
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