Low-Income Mothers Trust The Internet For Nutrition Information

The Internet is a low-income mother’s best friend when it comes to gathering information on nutrition.

The finding is based on a new study by researchers led by Kami J. Silk, Ph.D., of Michigan State University, which found that a web site is a better source of information on nutrition than a video game or printed pamphlet.

As a part of the study, the researchers presented 155 low-income mothers split into three groups with nutrition information in different formats.

While one group received information by playing a video game facts were communicated through a series of entertaining activities, a second received the same info through a printed pamphlet.

A third group received information in the form of a website.

The response of the three groups of women showed that mums found the Internet format the best for gathering information. According to the researchers, the women not only paid more attention to information presented on the Web site, but also understood it better.

They were also more likely to say they would go back to the Web site for nutrition information, compared to the video game or pamphlet.

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The results suggest that, when it comes to getting nutrition information, mothers prefer a Web site over a video game.

The result, the researchers stated, is not a surprising one for them.

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"Research suggests that Web sites are most often used for information, whereas games represent intellectual challenges."

The study is reported in the January issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.

Source-ANI
KAR/M