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.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. New York: W.H. Freeman and Company.
Block, G., Hartman, A. M., & Naughton, D. (1990). A reduced dietary questionnaire: Development and validation. Epidemiology, 1, 58–64.
Botvin. G. H., Schinke, S., & Orlandi, M. (1995). School-based health promotion programs: Substance abuse and sexual behaviors. Applied & Preventive Psychology, 4, 167–181.
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.
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.
McGinnis, J. M., & Foege, W. H. (1993). Actual causes of death in the United States. Journal of the American Medical Association, 271, 315–320.
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.
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.
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.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights 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
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023234515776