Internet-based nutrition education program and the dietary food processing degree of adolescents
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12957/demetra.2025.81264Keywords:
Adolescent. Dietary intake. Internet-based intervention. Ultra-processed food.Abstract
Objective: To test the effectiveness of an internet-based nutrition education program in adolescents living in an undeveloped city. Method: A clinical trial with 66 adolescents aged 14-19 years, students from a federal public school (removed for blinding) subjected to an internet-based nutrition education program was conducted. The activities took place every 15 days for 12 weeks, focused on encouraging the decrease in the processed/ultra-processed foods intake and the increase of natural/minimally processed foods intake. Activities included sending instant messages and applying quiz games. Results: There was a reduction in total energy consumption, but without reductions in the consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods. Adolescents from lowest economic classes increased their consumption of natural and minimally processed foods. Girls decreased, while boys increased their consumption of ultra-processed foods. Conclusions: The internet-based nutrition education program was effective in reducing total energy consumption, but not the consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods specifically.Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC) under number RBR-9crqgt.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Ingrid Sofia Vieira de Melo, João Victor Laurindo dos Santos, Clara Andrezza Crisóstomo Bezerra Costa, Dafiny Rodrigues Silva Praxedes, André Eduardo Silva Júnior, Mateus de Lima Macena, Nassib Bezerra Bueno
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