1Research Scholar, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Humanities and Science, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research, Chennai - 600 078, India. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5387-0219
2*Professor and Head, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Humanities and Science, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research, Chennai - 600 078, India. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-3703-3355. Email: prabhavathy_devi@yahoo.com (Corresponding Author)
Received: 26th Dec, 2025; Revised: 18th Feb 2026; Accepted: 22th Feb, 2026; Available Online: 30th March, 2026
Social media food posts and trends significantly influence dietary behaviours among college students, yet in India few studies have tested structured programmes to counter these effects. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a Nutritional Counselling Programme (NCP) in improving healthy lifestyle behaviours and physical fitness among students influenced by social media food vloggers. A quasi-experimental design was employed with 200 undergraduate students from five arts and science colleges in Chennai, randomly assigned to an Experimental Group (n = 100) and Control Group (n = 100). The experimental group received six fortnightly NCP sessions over three months, while the control group continued regular social media use without intervention. Data on eating habits, dietary choices, nutritional intake, physical activity, and health-related challenges were collected before and after the intervention using a validated questionnaire. Analyses included t-tests, ANOVA, correlation, and effect size estimation. Baseline pre-test scores showed no significant differences between groups across lifestyle variables. Post-intervention, the experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in eating habits, food choices, nutritional intake, and physical activity, with a reduction in health-related challenges. Improvements were consistent across demographic groups, although age showed some variation. Nutritional intake was positively correlated with physical activity levels. Findings suggest that structured nutritional counselling effectively promotes healthier dietary behaviours, physical activity, and reduces health challenges among college students.
Keywords: Nutritional Counselling, Healthy Lifestyle, College Students, Social Media Influence, Intervention Study
How to cite this article: Abirami SP, Prabhavathy Devi. Digital Diets and Real Consequences: Influence of Social Media on Nutritional Behaviour and Lifestyle of College Students in Chennai. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(3): 660. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.3.73
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None