Modelling a social media intervention framework on limiting consumption of high energy-dense (HED) foods and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) among adolescents / Hazirah Md Jamri

In Malaysia, one out of three adolescents are overweight or obese, one in three consume carbonated beverages daily, and one in ten eat fast food at least three days per week. Adolescents were more exposed to foods and beverages that contain excess amount of fat and sugars on social media. The majority of children between the ages of 5 and 17 use smartphones to access the Internet, and most students between the ages of 13 and 17 have social media profiles. Hence, various nutrition intervention has been done using digital platforms such as social media. However, despite the potential benefits of social media for nutrition and health interventions, some studies show low engagement rates and small significant results. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a framework based on the theoretical framework for social media intervention on limiting HED foods and SSBs consumption among adolescents. This is a three phases qualitative study: 1) Needs analysis through systematic literature review and in-depth interview among 15 adolescents; 2) Design and development utilising Fuzzy Delphi Method among 12 social media content creator and policymaker; and 3) Validity assessment employing Nominal Group Technique with eight nutritionist and dietitians. Findings for phase I highlighted the lack of any digital or technologically related models or theories in nutrition interventions, with social media being the most popular venue for delivering nutrition interventions among adolescents. Besides that, 19 factors influencing adolescents in using social media for nutrition interventions have been found such as user characteristics, environmental factor and social media features. Phase II reported that all items to be included in the framework were accepted by the expert panel following the three conditions which are threshold value, experts’ agreement percentage and fuzzy score with no additional items. Phase III revealed the overall result of the study where the framework was validated by the experts with percentage of agreement between 91% and 98% for each item and no new items added. To conclude, the social media intervention framework on limiting consumption of HED foods and SSBs among adolescents were developed and validated. This framework will provide the healthcare professionals and providers, policymakers, organizations and stakeholders with the knowledge to develop and optimize the effectiveness of a social media intervention aims to promote healthy eating by limiting HED foods and SSBs intake among adolescents.