Status : Verified
Personal Name Masinna, Gem Evajones G.; Orígenes, Joshua Miguel T.; Vinuya, Cesar Justin C.; Celestial, John William P.
Resource Title The relationship between the quality of nutrition-related weight loss TikTok content and Philippine healthy eating index scores in select UP Diliman undergraduates
Date Issued 20 June 2025
Abstract TikTok, the world’s fastest-growing social media platform, has rapidly become a primary source of nutrition information for young adults. However, studies suggest that a large proportion of this content may be misleading or inaccurate. This research investigated the relationship between the quality of nutrition-related weight loss TikTok content—evaluated using the DISCERN tool—and the diet quality of 18-to-24-year-old undergraduate students from the University of the Philippines Diliman, measured through the Philippine Healthy Eating Index (PHIL-HEI). Using a cross-sectional, correlational quantitative research design, 67 participants submitted TikTok videos they had recently watched and completed two non-consecutive 24-hour food recalls. These were used to compute individual DISCERN and PHIL-HEI scores. Findings revealed that while participants were exposed to moderately reliable videos (mean DISCERN score: 3.82), there was no statistically significant relationship between video quality and PHIL-HEI scores (ρ = -0.13, p = 0.2982). This suggests that exposure to digital health content does not necessarily translate into healthier eating behaviors. The study highlights that while TikTok may shape nutrition awareness, its isolated influence on actual dietary behavior is limited. Environmental constraints such as low food budgets and limited cooking access, along with personal factors like stress, smoking, and alcohol use, while not directly examined, may have played a substantial role in shaping diet quality than the quality of TikTok videos alone.. These findings underscore the need for a comprehensive health promotion strategy that integrates digital literacy, behavioral motivation, and supportive environments. Future studies should refine participant selection and assess content exposure more holistically to better reflect real-world influences on dietary behavior.
Degree Course Bachelor of Science in Community Nutrition
Language English
Keyword Public health; TikTok; Nutrition-related content; Weight Loss; PHIL-HEI; Nutrition policy–Philippines; Social media—Influence
Material Type Thesis/Dissertation
Preliminary Pages
677.97 Kb
Category : P - Author wishes to publish the work personally.
 
Access Permission : Limited Access