title: My student body: effects of an internet-based prevention program to decrease obesity among college students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the impact of My Student Body (MSB)-Nutrition, an Internet-based obesity prevention program for college students.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred and twenty ethnically diverse undergraduate students were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 conditions: MSB-Nutrition program, an on-campus weight management course, and a comparison group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Students completed baseline and follow-up surveys regarding their nutrition and physical activity behaviors, self-efficacy, stress, attitudes, and body weight.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the on-campus course and a comparison group, the MSB-Nutrition program increased fruit and vegetable consumption, reduced stress, and increased fruit and vegetable self-efficacy but had no significant effect on students' exercise self-efficacy, exercise behavior, or weight loss.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MSB-Nutrition program was effective in changing students' nutrition behaviors but had no effect on physical activity behaviors or weight loss. Suggestions for improving Internet-based interventions aimed at decreasing obesity rates among college students are offered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science and Human Ecology, California State University San Bernardino, San Bernardino, CA 92407, USA. rlachaus@csusb.edu
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Lachausse
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult