title: Design of a website on nutrition and physical activity for adolescents: results from formative research.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Teens do not meet guidelines for healthy eating and physical activity. The Internet may be an effective method for delivering programs that help them adopt healthy behaviors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To collect information to design content and structure for a teen-friendly website promoting healthy eating and physical activity behaviors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative research, encompassing both focus group and interview techniques, were used to design the website. Participants were 12-17 year olds in Houston, Texas, and West Lafayette, Indiana.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 133 participants took part in 26 focus groups while 15 participated in one-on-one interviews to provide guidance for the development of teen-friendly content and structure for an online behavior change program promoting healthy eating and physical activity to 12-17 year olds. The youth made suggestions to overcome common barriers to healthy eating and physical activity. Their feedback was used to develop "Teen Choice: Food & Fitness," a 12-week online behavior change program, populated by 4 cartoon character role models.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is critical that members of the target audience be included in formative research to develop behavior change programs that are relevant, appealing, and address their needs and interests.
authors.affiliation: USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. dit@bcm.edu
authors.forename: Debbe
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Karen Weber
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Cullen
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boushey
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Konzelmann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana; D020407:Internet; D009043:Motor Activity; D009752:Nutritional Status; D013781:Texas