THE S I E N O F LIFESTYLE CHANGE FitnessINutrition Evaluation of a University General Education Health and Wellness Course Delivered by Lecture or Online Ronald Hager, PhD; James D. George, PhD; James D. LeCheminant, PhD; Bruce W. Bailey, PhD; William J. Vincent, EdD Abstract Purpose. To assess a single-sertiesler university general éducation (GE) health and luellness course influence on physical activity (PA) and dietary habits aviong university students and lo compare the course delivered through lecture or online for these outcomes. Design. A 15-iueek intervention with pre-jjost one-group design, allowing for comparative assessTnenls in dietary and PA habits across time by delivery method (classroom lecture vs. online). Setting. A large Western university. Participants. Participants (n = 1638, female; n = 1333, male) luere 82% university freshman or sophomores. Intervention. Participants tvere required to take a GE health and Wellness course either by classroom lecture or online. The lecture and online curriculuvi content tvere similar. Participation in the study was entirely voluntary and was not connected to course grade. Measures. PA and dietary outcomes luere determined from questions used in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey and were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Other validated questions luere used to assess fitness. Analysis. The general linear model was utilized to determi'ne group x period interactio'ns luhen comparing the classroom lecture vs. online course. Results. Students improved overall level of PA by 12%, daily minutes of moderate-intensity PA by 8%, and fitness level by 2%. Students improved fruit/vegetable consumption by 4%, bran/whole grain cereal consumption by 8%, and brown rice/whole luheat bread consumption by 11%. All improvements luere statistically significant (p < .001) with percent values indicating the size of the effect. The classroom lecture course yielded stronger improvements in several PA and dietary outcomes than the online course. Conclusions. A single-semester university Wellness course may positively infiuence multiple PA and dietary behaviors; however, classroom lecture may be superior to online delivery. (AmJ Health Promot 2012;26[5]:263-269.) Key Words: Diet, Health Education, Internet Learning, Physical Activity, University Students, Prevention Research. Manuscript format: research; Research purpose: program evaluation; Study design: quasi-experimental; Outcome measure: behavioral; Setting: school; Health focus: fitness/physical activity; Strategy: education, skill building/behavior change; Target population: youth (university students); Target population circumstances: education Ronald Hager, PhD; James D. George, PhD; James D. LeCheminant, PhD; Bruce W. Bailey, PhD; and William J. Vincent, EdD, are with the Department of Exercise Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. Send reprint requests to Ronald Hager, PhD, Department of Exercise Sciences, Brigham Yotmg University, 228-B, Provo, UT 84602; hager@byii.eclu. This mamtsaipt w(is submiLted October 20, 2010; reuisioiu were requested Jmniaiy 20, 2011; the manusaipt was accepted for picblicatioii January 24, 2011. Cojyjiight © 2012 by American Joumal of Health Promotion, Inc. 0S90-II7I/12/S5.00 + 0 DOI: 10.42 7S/ajhp. 101020-QUAN-344 PURPOSE University students may be at in- creased risk for several unhealthy behaviors, including inadequate physi- cal activity (PA) in amounts necessaiy for improving health, and poor diet.''^ Because many university students live away from home for the first time and are establishing patterns that may persist throughout their adult lives, the university period presents an oppor- tune time to promote a healthy lifestyle and potentially reduce the risk for chronic disease later in life. It is well documented that regular PA has health benefits, such as im- proving cardiorespiratory fitness, re- ducing the risk of several chronic diseases, and managing body weight.''"^ Even though students tend to obtain more PA than the general adult pop- ulation, many students are still not achiexang the recommended level of PA.'*^ Keating et al.,' for example, reported that 40% to 50% of university students do not meet PA recommen- dations. Additionally, Racette et al.," observed a large sample of university students and showed that 30% and 29% of this sample participated in no formal exercise during their freshman and sophomore years, respectively. Likewise, increasing consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains may reduce risk of chronic diseases, such as heart disease and some can- cers.'"^ Yet, there is evidence that some university students do not practice good dietary habits. Several studies indicate that a large majority of stu- dents do not consume at least five fruits or vegetables per day,'"" with American Journal of Health Promotion May/June 2012, Vol, 26, No, 5 263