How do electronic personal health information technologies enhance obesity prevention behaviors? Examining the roles of obesity risk perception and body weight.

BACKGROUND

The global epidemic of overweight and obesity appears alongside numerous diseases. As electronic personal health information (ePHI) technology becomes more prevalent, understanding its relationship with health behaviors and how this relationship may differ across physical groups becomes increasingly relevant.

METHODS

Using secondary data from the National Cancer Institute's Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 2020, this study examined the relationships between ePHI technology use, obesity preventive behaviors (e.g., physical activity, alcohol consumption, and diet control), and risk perception of obesity, considering body weight as a potential moderator.

RESULTS

The patterns between ePHI technology use and obesity preventive behaviors differed across behavior types and body weight groups. Higher ePHI technology use was associated with increased physical activity (b = 5.98, b = 0.44, p < .01) and diet control (b = 0.03, b = 0.28, OR = 1.11, p < .001), while no significant relationship was observed with alcohol consumption. The relationship between ePHI technology use and risk perception of obesity was weaker among the obese group (b = -0.03, b = -0.11, p < .05). The indirect relationship between ePHI technology use and physical activity varied by body weight, showing stronger associations in the underweight group (95% CI [0.03, 2.77]) and weaker associations in the obese group (95% CI [-1.14, -0.04]).

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest more limited relationships between ePHI technology and health behaviors than previously anticipated. Physical activity and dietary regulation showed modest associations with ePHI technology use, while alcohol consumption showed no significant relationship. Overweight and obese individuals did not show a higher risk perception of obesity or greater engagement in preventive behaviors compared to those of healthy weight. These findings highlight the importance of developing a more nuanced understanding of ePHI technology's role in health-related contexts.