Perceptions and Impact of a Youth-led Childhood Obesity Prevention Intervention among Youth-leaders.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To evaluate the impact of a youth-led nutrition intervention on youth-leaders themselves.

Design

Mixed methods, including: in-depth interviews and a quasi-experimental quantitative study comparing youth-leaders and nonparticipant comparison youth.

Analysis

Qualitative analysis using direct content analysis. Difference-in-differences analyses assessing quantitative program impact.

Results

Youth-leaders perceived that the intervention impacted themselves, the youth-participants, and their respective social networks. Youth-leaders experienced greater increases in intentions to eat healthfully (p=0.04), and greater decreases in support for healthy eating from their friends (p=0.01), than the comparison group.

Conclusions/implications

Youth-leaders reported multiple levels of intervention impact, and increased intentions for healthy eating; however, additional research is needed to enhance impact on behavioral outcomes.

SUBMITTER: Steeves EA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8443144 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature