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

AbstractObjective: To assess the impact of an online game-based educational program on nutrition knowledge and dietary and physical activity habits among university students in the United Kingdom.Design: Randomized controlled trial with pre- and postintervention comparisons.Setting: Two higher education settings in London, UK.Subjects: Current undergraduate and postgraduate students of two universities (n = 88) aged 18–34 years are randomly allocated to an intervention (n = 44) or a control group (n = 44).Intervention: The intervention group will receive access to an educational website and online quizzes with gamification elements, including information about healthy eating and physical activity. The control group will receive no information. Duration of the intervention will be 10 weeks.Measures of Outcome: Primary outcome is nutrition knowledge. Secondary outcomes include dietary and activity habits. Nutrition knowledge and dietary and activity habits will be assessed using questionnaires. Weekly steps...