Tweeting for Nutrition: Feasibility and Efficacy Outcomes of a 6-Week Social Media-Based Nutrition Education Intervention for Student-Athletes

Abstract

Coccia, C, Fernandes, SM, and Altiti, J. Tweeting for nutrition: feasibility and efficacy outcomes of a 6-week social media-based nutrition education intervention for student-athletes. J Strength Cond Res 34(7): 2084–2092, 2020—The main objective of this study was to determine the feasibility and efficacy of a social media-based nutrition intervention using Twitter on nutrition knowledge, dietary practices, body mass index (BMI), self-efficacy, and social support among student-athletes. Participants included 50 male and female National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I student-athletes between the ages of 18 and 24 years. Data were collected in October 2014. The study design employed a 6-week social media intervention using Twitter, to increase nutrition knowledge, self-efficacy, social support, and dietary adherence to the recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all study variables and pre-post differences were assessed using paired t-tests. The results indicate a 6-week nutrition intervention delivered solely through social media resulted in increased nutrition knowledge (t = −2.23; p = 0.035), reduced fat intake (t = −1.57; p = 0.13), and decreased BMI (t = 2.32; p = 0.027) in student-athletes. In conclusion, social media-based nutrition education may provide university-based strength and conditioning coaches and other sports practitioners with a tool for widespread and timely access to students to facilitate healthy dietary behaviors.