Peer-Supported E-Health Intervention for College Student Weight Management and Mental Health

Peer-Supported E-Health Intervention for College Student Weight Management and Mental Health

This study will test whether adding peer support and online education can help college students manage their weight and improve their mood: we plan to enroll 300 full-time university students and randomly assign them to one of three six-month groups (monthly in-person health talks and weekly emailed tips alone; those activities plus biweekly peer-mentor meetings and an online chat group; or those activities plus a custom app delivering weekly lessons, monthly expert live Q&A, and self-tracking tools). We will measure weight, body mass index (BMI), and scores on standard questionnaires for depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7) and life satisfaction (SWLS) at baseline, three months and six months to compare the effectiveness of each approach. By identifying which combination of face-to-face support and digital tools produces the greatest improvements, we aim to inform low-cost, scalable programs to help students maintain a healthy weight and emotional well-being.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Full-time undergraduate students aged 18-25 years
• Baseline BMI ≥ 24.0 kg/m²
• Able to provide informed consent
• Owns a smartphone or computer with internet access
• Willing to attend monthly lectures and complete online modules

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current participation in another weight-management or psychological intervention program
• Diagnosis of an eating disorder, severe psychiatric illness, or medical condition affecting weight (e.g., hyperthyroidism)
• Pregnant or planning pregnancy during the study period
• Any physical limitation precluding participation in light-to-moderate physical activity
• Inability to communicate in the language of intervention materials