Report Title

The Association between Nutrition-Focused Instagram Accounts and Nutrition Knowledge and Food Choices in Instagram Users

Collective Title

Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics Research Reports 2020

Abstract

Background: Instagram is a fairly unregulated social media platform that is reported as having over 250 million daily users. As this social network is frequently used to seek out health-related information, misleading nutrition information could potentially have a detrimental effect on the public’s health. Thus, it may be beneficial for nutrition and dietetic practitioners to be present on Instagram to offer credible nutrition information to the many Instagram users.

Objective: To examine the effects that nutrition-focused Instagram accounts have on nutrition knowledge and food choices of Instagram users.

Design: A cross-sectional random sample of Instagram users completed an online anonymous survey designed by graduate students and administered via Qualtrics survey software.

Participants: Individuals aged 18 years and above met the inclusion criteria of having an Instagram account and following at least one nutrition-focused Instagram account.

Main outcomes: Assessed that nutrition-focused Instagram accounts are associated with influencing Instagram users in their nutrition knowledge and food choices.

Statistics: A correlation analysis and a Chi-square goodness of fit tests were used to determine the associations between study variables. Data was analyzed using SPSS 25.0, IBM Corp.

Results: One hundred and twenty Instagram users completed the survey. There were significant associations between the trust Instagram users have in nutrition-focused Instagram accounts and influence on their food choices and nutrition knowledge (p<0.000, p<0.000). There was a significant association between frequency of exposure, at least once a day Instagram visits, and food choice (p<0.002) and increase in nutrition knowledge (p=0.035).

Conclusion: Instagram users are interested in learning about a healthy lifestyle, therefore, it is important to educate the public on how nutrition can help people live healthy lives. For this reason, an increased Registered Dietitian presence on Instagram can potentially benefit the public’s health.

LLU Discipline

Nutrition and Dietetics

Department

Nutrition and Dietetics

School

School of Allied Health Professions

First Advisor

Gurinder Bains

Second Advisor

Lida Gharibvand

Third Advisor

Andrea Fanica

Fourth Advisor

Edward Bitok

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

2020

Date (Title Page)

6-2020

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

nutrition information; social media

Type

Research Report

Page Count

26 p.

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Research Reports

Collection Website

scholarsrepository.llu.edu/rr/

Repository

Loma Linda University. University Libraries.

Download

Share

COinS