Ms Katerina Belogianni

Research project: Nutrition knowledge of university students and the impact of a game-based e-programme on their knowledge, diet quality and physical activity

Abstract

The objective of the project was to assess nutrition knowledge as well as design, implement and evaluate an online educational programme to improve nutrition knowledge, diet quality and physical activity in university students. To investigate nutrition knowledge, a cross-sectional study was conducted among students (n=249) of two London-based universities. The online educational programme included a website with information and tips on healthy eating and exercise and quiz-games relevant to the content of the website to reinforce the learning process. Eighty-eight students entered the study and randomised to an intervention group, which accessed the e-programme and a control group which did not receive any information. A between-group analysis was undertaken to investigate the effectiveness of the e-programme on the outcomes of interest. An evaluation study was conducted at follow-up to explore students' perceptions regarding the feasibility and sustainability of the e-programme. Gaps and future implications were addressed and discussed.

  • Research degree: PhD
  • Title of project: Nutrition knowledge of university students and the impact of a game-based e-programme on their knowledge, diet quality and physical activity
  • Research supervisor: Professor Ann Ooms

Biography

I am a registered dietitian and nutritionist and an associate fellow in HEA in the UK. The last eight years I have been working on small and large projects that promote public health nutrition. In particular, I have participated in a food aid programme in Greece, where I was responsible for the design of school meals and educational materials to promote healthy eating in children. I also participated in the development of the dietary guidelines for the Greek population (adults, children, pregnant and lactating women, people aged over 65 years). Currently, I am a project officer in EFAD, participating in a European Healthy Hydration Awareness Campaign and an International Academic Moderator on Nutrition and Dietetics at QMU. Since 2015, I have been undertaking doctoral research, provided teaching and involved in other projects, scientific groups and activities within Kingston University. This year (2019) I concluded my doctoral research and submitted my thesis. 

Areas of research interest

  • Improvement of nutritional status of groups of population (young people, pregnant women).
  • The use of technology and online tools to promote healthy eating and physical activity and assess dietary intake.
  • Strategies to prevent obesity and metabolic risk.

Qualifications

  • PhD in Nutrition Education, Centre for Health and Social Care Research, Kingston University
  • MSc in Nutrition, King's College London
  • BSc in Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens
  • Certificate in Fundamentals of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  • Certificate in Fundamentals of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  • Associate Fellow in Higher Education Academy

Funding or awards received

  • Kingston University studentship
  • Greek corporate institutions

Publications

Belogianni K & Baldwin C. Types of interventions targeting dietary, physical activity and weight-related outcomes among university students: a systematic review of systematic reviews. Advances in Nutrition (ahead of publication).

Belogianni K, Ooms A et al. Rationale and Design of an Online Educational Program Using Game-Based Learning to Improve Nutrition and Physical Activity Outcomes Among University Students in the United Kingdom. J Am Coll Nutr. 2018 Aug 2:1-8

Benetou V, Kastorini CM, Belogianni K et al. Red and processed meat intake associations with health and guidelines for adults in Greece. Iatriki 2015, 104(2):136-154.

Benetou V, Belogianni K et al. Vegetable and fruit intake Associations with health and guidelines for adults in Greece. Iatriki 2015, 104(1):11-30.

Kontogianni MD, Vidra N, Farmaki AE, Koinaki S, Belogianni K et al. Adherence rates to the Mediterranean diet are low in a representative sample of Greek children and adolescents. J Nutr. 2008 Oct;138(10):1951-6.

Number of items: 7.

Article

Belogianni, Katerina, Ooms, Ann, Lykou, Anastasia, Nikoletou, Dimitra and Moir, Hannah Jayne (2023) An online game-based intervention using quizzes to improve nutrition and physical activity outcomes among university students. Health Education Journal, ISSN (print) 0017-8969 (Epub Ahead of Print)

Belogianni, Katerina, Ooms, Ann, Lykou, Anastasia and Moir, Hannah Jayne (2022) Nutrition knowledge among university students in the UK : a cross-sectional study. Public Health Nutrition, 25(10), pp. 2834-2841. ISSN (print) 1368-9800

Kastorini, Christina-Maria, Critselis, Elena, Zota, Dina, Coritsidis, Alexandra L, Nagarajan, Meera K, Papadimitriou, Eleni, Belogianni, Katerina, Benetou, Vassiliki and Linos, Athena (2019) National dietary guidelines of Greece for children and adolescents : a tool for promoting healthy eating habits. Public Health Nutrition, 22(14), pp. 2688-2699. ISSN (print) 1368-9800

Belogianni, Katerina and Baldwin, Christine (2019) Types of interventions targeting dietary, physical activity and weight-related outcomes among university students : a systematic review of systematic reviews. Advances in Nutrition, 10(5), pp. 848-863. ISSN (print) 2161-8313

Belogianni, Katerina, Ooms, Ann, Ahmed, Hafez, Nikoletou, Dimitra, Grant, Robert, Makris, Dimitrios and Moir, Hannah J. (2019) Rationale and design of an online educational program using game-based learning to improve nutrition and physical activity outcomes among university students in the United Kingdom. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 38(1), pp. 23-30. ISSN (print) 0731-5724

Conference or Workshop Item

Belogianni, Katerina (2017) The Uni-smart Eating study. In: EFAD Conference 2017 : The Future is Now : ENDietS Student Day; 28 Sep 2017, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. (Unpublished)

Thesis

Belogianni, Katerina (2019) Nutrition knowledge of university students and the impact of a game-based e-programme on students’ nutrition knowledge, diet quality and physical activity. (PhD thesis), Kingston University, .

This list was generated on Thu Mar 28 06:06:17 2024 GMT.

Conference papers

10th EFAD Conference 2017, September, Rotterdam: Belogianni K, Moir HJ, Nikoletou D, Hafez A, Ooms A. Nutritional Knowledge, Diet Quality, Physical Activity and Weight-related outcomes among university students in UK: baseline characteristics of an online educational intervention.

14th Panhellenic Nutrition Dietetics Conference and 3rd Panhellenic Congress of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism, Athens, 2017.Kouvari M, Kastorini C, Georgakopoulos P , Belogianni K, Veloudaki A, Pantazopoulou, Linos A. The nutritional value of the DIATROFI program meals compared with respective commercial products (awarded).

III World Congress of Public Health Nutrition, November 2014, Spain. Benetou V., Papadimitriou E. , Lykou A., Belogianni K. , Zota K. and  Linos A. Estimating prevalence of inadequate nutrient intakes in children and adolescents in Greece.