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

NCT06966661 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2025LCLL-057
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 216
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

Depression - Major Depressive Disorder; Psychological Well Being; Obesity Prevention

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• 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).

  Baseline and Month 6 (6 months)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Depression Severity (PHQ-9)

  Baseline and Month 6 (6 months)

Study Arms (3)

Control Arm

NO INTERVENTION

Peer Support Arm

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Peer Support Intervention

Peer Support eHealth Arm

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Peer Support and eHealth Intervention

Interventions

Peer Support and eHealth Intervention BEHAVIORAL

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.

Peer Support eHealth Arm

Peer Support Intervention BEHAVIORAL

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 Arm

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 25 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• 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

You may not qualify if:

• 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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Jinan University Guangzhou: lead
• Guangzhou Sport University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

School of Physical Education, Jinan University

Guangzhou, New Territories, China

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Psychological Well-Being

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Personal Satisfaction; Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Lecturer, School of Physical Education, Jinan University

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 4, 2025
• First Posted: May 13, 2025
• Study Start: November 2, 2024
• Primary Completion: April 30, 2025
• Study Completion: May 5, 2025
• Last Updated: January 8, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Locations

CN (1)