Effects of an Evidence-Informed Healthy Eating Blog on Dietary Intakes and Food-Related Behaviors of Mothers of Preschool- and School-Aged Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: Although social media such as blogs are still considered innovative communication technologies, some registered dietitians (RDs) are using them to promote healthy eating; however, evidence regarding the effects of healthy eating blogs on users' diet is lacking.

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of an evidence-informed healthy eating blog written by an RD on dietary intakes, with a focus on vegetables and fruit and milk and alternatives consumption, and food-related behaviors of Canadian mothers.

Design: This study was a parallel, randomized, controlled trial.

Participants/setting: Data were collected from 84 French-speaking adult mothers of children aged between 2 and 12 years living in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, who were recruited between October 2015 and February 2017 using institutional e-mail lists, flyers, newspapers, social media advertisements, and word of mouth.

Intervention: The intervention was exclusively delivered through an evidence-informed healthy eating blog-integrating theory-based intervention methods to improve diet quality by increasing vegetables and fruit and milk and alternatives consumption in mothers-for 6 months at a dose of one new post written by an RD each week. Mothers could engage with the RD and fellow participants by posting comments on the blog.

Main outcome measures: Main outcomes were daily intakes of vegetables and fruit and milk and alternatives. Outcome assessments were performed at baseline, 3 months, and at the end of the 6-month intervention.

Statistical analysis: Differences between the groups were examined using mixed linear models.

Results: At 6 months, no significant difference was observed between groups for intakes of vegetables and fruit (P=0.923), milk and alternatives (P=0.271), or food-related behaviors and body weight (P=0.180).

Conclusions: A healthy eating blog, at a dose of 1 post per week, had no effects on dietary intakes, food-related behaviors, and body weight of mothers after 6 months. Methodologic issues are discussed to inform future health behavior research using blogs to promote healthy eating.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03156803.

Keywords: Behavior change; Blogs; Healthy diet; Knowledge translation; Randomized controlled trial.