The hot project (healthy outcome for teens): an innovative online intervention for prevention and treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes

Muzaffar, Henna

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/32063 Copy

Description

Title

The hot project (healthy outcome for teens): an innovative online intervention for prevention and treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes

Author(s)

Muzaffar, Henna

Issue Date

2012-06-27T21:31:08Z

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Chapman-Novakofski, Karen M.

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Donovan, Sharon M.

Committee Member(s)

• Chapman-Novakofski, Karen M.
• Kim, Juhee
• Castelli, Darla M.

Department of Study

Nutritional Sciences

Discipline

Nutritional Sciences

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• Obesity
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Online
• Teens

Abstract

ABSTRACT The rate of childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years from 5% to 18%. The risk of developing Type 2 diabetes increases in a dose-dependent manner with the increase in body mass index. Overweight and obesity are caused by caloric imbalance. Thus, healthy lifestyle habits, including healthy eating and physical activity, are recommended for the prevention and management of obesity and Type 2 diabetes. The HOT (Healthy Outcome for Teens) Project is an innovative online intervention for adolescents for the prevention and treatment of obesity and Type 2 diabetes by focusing on healthy eating and physical activity. The primary purpose of the HOT Project was to determine if web-based modules would increase awareness about obesity and diabetes prevention, behavior, and psychosocial variables, through active online learning (AOL) versus passive online learning (POL) with the same content framed within a behavioral theory. The HOT project was a six-phase intervention. First, the website was adapted from an adult website to use with the middle school students by recruiting a teen council for their opinions. Second, the intervention, framed within Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), was implemented in three schools in east central Illinois. Third, focus groups were conducted with the participants of the SCT intervention to assess their acceptability of the intervention. Fourth, the website was adjusted based on the results of the two studies. Fifth, the intervention was again implemented in two schools and this time framed within the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Sixth, focus groups were conducted to explore the observational findings of the TPB intervention. The participants improved knowledge from both the SCT and TPB interventions but for the SCT subjects, active online learners showed significantly more improvement than the passive online learners. The subjects in the SCT trial showed some improvement for outcome expectations but not for self-efficacy. However, the subjects in the TPB trial, showed improvement for all constructs of theory implemented in the study. The results suggest that an interactive web-based intervention is a suitable target for reaching middle school students for addressing health problems. Moreover, TPB is more appropriate for this population for short-term interventions.

Graduation Semester

2012-05

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/32063

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2012 Henna Muzaffar

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