Skip to main content
Log in

The Effects of an Innovative WWW-Based Health Behavior Program on the Nutritional Practices of Tenth Grade Girls: Preliminary Report on the Eat4Life Program

  • Published:
Journal of Gender, Culture and Health

    We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

    Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

Abstract

This preliminary study assessed the efficacy of a WWW-based set of nutrition modules that served as an adjunct to a basic didactic health curriculum for 10 th grade girls in a rural high school in a medically underserved area. Through assessments on target areas and foods (eating three meals per day, consuming five servings of fruits and vegetables, increasing breads and cereals, decreasing high fat dairy, decreasing high fat snacks, decreasing regular sodas), the six module system provided goals and strategies and personalized feedback on progress. A comparison of girls in one class using the modules compared to girls in another health class not using the system on a measure similar to the food frequency questionnaire showed that use of the modules was associated with appreciable change in all areas except soda consumption. Methods to expand the use of www-based health behavior programs concurrent with future computer and Internet access were discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. New York: W.H. Freeman and Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Block, G., Hartman, A. M., & Naughton, D. (1990). A reduced dietary questionnaire: Development and validation. Epidemiology, 1, 58–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Botvin. G. H., Schinke, S., & Orlandi, M. (1995). School-based health promotion programs: Substance abuse and sexual behaviors. Applied & Preventive Psychology, 4, 167–181.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelder, S. H., Perry, C. L., Klepp, K-I., & Lytle, L. L. (1994). Longitudinal tracking of adolescent smoking, physical activity, and food choice behaviors. American Journal of Public Health, 84, 1121–1126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luepker, R. V., Perry, C. L., McKinlay, S. M., Nader, P. R., Parcel, G. S., Stone, E. J., Webber, L. S., Elder, J. P., Feldman, H. A., Johnson, C. C., Kelder, S. H., Wu, M., and the CATCH Collaborative Group (1996). Outcomes of a field trial to improve children's dietary patterns and physical activity: The child and adolescent trial of cardiovascular health (CATCH). Journal of the American Medical Association, 275, 768–776.

    Google Scholar 

  • McGinnis, J. M., & Foege, W. H. (1993). Actual causes of death in the United States. Journal of the American Medical Association, 271, 315–320.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norris, J., Harnack, L., Carmichael, S., Pouane, T., Wakimoto, P., & Block, G. (1997). U.S. trends in nutrient intake: The 1987 and 1992 national health interview surveys. American Journal of Public Health, 87, 740–746.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weissberg, R. P., & Elias, M. J. (1993). Enhancing young people's social competence and health behavior: An important challenge for educators, scientists, policymakers, and funders. Applied & Preventive Psychology, 2, 179–190.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winett, R. A., Anderson, E. S., Bickley, P. G., Walberg-Rankin, J., Moore, J. F., Leahy, M., Harris, C. E., & Gerkin, R. E. (1997). Nutrition for a lifetime system: A multimedia system for altering food supermarket shoppers' purchases to meet nutritional guidelines. Computers in Human Behavior, 13, 371–392.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Russ, C.R., Tate, D.F., Whiteley, J.A. et al. The Effects of an Innovative WWW-Based Health Behavior Program on the Nutritional Practices of Tenth Grade Girls: Preliminary Report on the Eat4Life Program. Journal of Gender, Culture, and Health 3, 121–128 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023234515776

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023234515776

Navigation