title: Quality and accuracy of Internet information concerning a healthy diet.
abstract: The Internet is used by many consumers interested in healthy living. The aim of the present study was to explore the variations among Internet information concerning a healthy diet and to evaluate the potential for misleading information. To conduct a descriptive analysis, the search term "healthy diet" was entered into three search engines and the first 100 results were examined. Of the evaluated 48 websites, 5, 26 and 11, respectively, gave references, date when information was updated and cautioned users. For assessment of accuracy, six dietary guidelines were used as references and the website was scored according to the number of recommended dietary features that matched the guidelines. Websites that specified their objectives scored significantly higher when matched with each guideline than the websites that did not state four guidelines (p < 0.05). Internet information on a "healthy diet" was likely to only partially follow recommendations of the guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Niigata University Faculty of Medicine , Niigata , Japan .
authors.forename: Reiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hirasawa
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yachi
authors.forename: Sakiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoshizawa
authors.forename: Chika
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Horikawa
authors.forename: Yoriko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Heianza
authors.forename: Ayumi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sugawara
authors.forename: Yasuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sone
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shimano
authors.forename: Kazumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kodama
authors.forename: Hirohito
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sone
mesh_terms: D004032:Diet; D017408:Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000592:standards*