Examination of a Peer-Led, Non-Diet Nutrition and Exercise Adherence Pilot Program on a College Campus

Abstract

A non-equivalent control group design was utilized to investigate the effect of a non-diet, peer-led, tailored nutrition and exercise adherence intervention (FitU) on exercise stages of change, intuitive eating, and barriers to healthy eating and exercise in college females. Female students (n=17) who enrolled in the 8-10 week program served as the intervention group and general education students who did not receive an intervention served as the control group (n=16). Surveys were administered pre and post intervention over two consecutive semesters. Utilizing ANCOVA analyses, reported barriers to eating healthy decreased (p=.008) and one intuitive eating subscale, eating for physical rather than emotional reasons improved significantly (p=.01) in the intervention group compared to control from pre to post. Further, 65% of the intervention group reported an improvement in exercise stage of change and none relapsed compared with only 20% improvement and 40% relapse in the control group from pre to postintervention. The majority of the intervention participants also reported improved dietary (82.4%) and exercise (76.5%) patterns/thoughts. Peer-led and individually tailored, non-diet nutrition and exercise interventions may effectively promote healthy behaviors among college females.

Impact of Non-Diet Approaches on Attitudes, Behaviors, and Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review

“…2,3,36,55,57,63,66,69 Of these, 1 reported a significant reduction in body image avoidance, 2,3 although the reduction was not maintained at 2-year follow-up, whereas 1 reported a non-significant reduction. 66 Two studies reported a significant reduction in body image dissatisfaction, 2,3,57 1 reported a non-significant reduction, 66 and 1 reported no change.…”

“…2,3,58,59,62,63,[65][66][67]69 One study re-ported significant increases in energy expenditure from pre-to postintervention compared with controls. 2, 3 Carroll and colleagues 69 were the only researchers to obtain post data from most participants to measure changes in fitness levels from pre to post.…”

“…Although physical activity declined in both intervention and control groups in the WebHealth study, physical activity in the intervention group reduced significantly less than in the control group as college students adapted to their independent life stage. 60 Keeler and colleagues 63 found that reported physical activity stage of change increased significantly Obese females aged $ 20 y Overweight and obese bingeeating females aged 25-50 y…”

“…2,3,33,34,36,55,[57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67]69 One intervention included individual counseling 63 and another was delivered through online learning modules. 60 Interventions ranged from 50 minutes to 18 months; most interventions lasted 8-16 weeks.…”

“…50 Many researchers have been implementing non-diet interventions and assessing their effects on anthropometrics, cholesterol, blood pressure, body image, depressions, stress, dietary restraint and disinhibition, dietary quality, and physical activity. 23,33,34,36,[55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67] The aim of this research was to conduct a systematic review to synthesize the peer-reviewed literature evaluating non-diet interventions to determine their effectiveness. Results are intended to guide the development of more effective intervention efforts and provide directions for future research.…”