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

Jinan University Guangzhou216 enrolled

Overview

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.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

216

Conditions

Depression - Major Depressive Disorder Psychological Well Being Obesity Prevention

Interventions

Peer Support InterventionBEHAVIORAL

In addition to all components of Standard Health Education, participants join biweekly, small-group meetings (6-8 peers) facilitated by trained upper-year student mentors who guide goal-setting, experience sharing, and mutual accountability. A moderated online chat forum provides daily encouragement, peer-to-peer Q\&A, and group reminders, distinguishing this arm by its structured social support network.

Peer Support and eHealth InterventionBEHAVIORAL

This arm integrates the full Peer Support Intervention with a custom mobile/web application that delivers weekly, interactive modules on nutrition, exercise, and mental health; offers in-app self-monitoring tools for weight, dietary intake, and mood; and hosts monthly live Q\&A webinars with clinical nutritionists and mental health professionals. The combination of real-time peer interaction and scalable digital content differentiates it as a multifaceted, blended-delivery intervention.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 25 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

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

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in Body Weight

Mean change in body weight (in kilograms) from baseline to the end of the 6-month intervention, measured by a calibrated digital scale under standardized conditions (light clothing, no shoes).

Time frame: Baseline and Month 6 (6 months)

Secondary Outcomes

Change in Depression Severity (PHQ-9)

Mean change in Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) total score from baseline to the end of the 6-month intervention. The PHQ-9 is a 9-item self-administered questionnaire used to monitor the severity of depression and response to treatment. The total score ranges from 0 to 27, where higher scores indicate greater depression severity (worse outcome).