Impact of digital nutrition education on adolescents: A study based on nutrition podcasts

Abstract

Adolescence is a key stage for acquiring eating habits and lifestyles that influence future health. In this context, digital tools represent an innovative alternative for strengthening nutritional education processes. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of a digital intervention, through educational podcasts, on the nutritional knowledge of adolescents aged 14 to 18 years from a school in the province of Pastaza, Ecuador, with the aim of contributing to the development of a healthy eating culture. The intervention consisted of the weekly broadcast of five podcast episodes on nutrition and healthy lifestyles for four weeks. Data collection was carried out using a validated questionnaire administered before and after the intervention, and the analysis included descriptive statistics and the paired-samples t-test. The results showed a statistically significant increase in the level of nutritional knowledge (p < 0.001), with no relevant changes in eating habits and a decrease in physical activity. In conclusion, although the intervention improved nutritional knowledge, it was not enough to generate short-term behavioral changes, highlighting the need for longer and more comprehensive educational strategies.