Examining the credentials of food bloggers and the online environment of food blogs

<p>This study evaluated characteristics of food blogs and food bloggers that potentially affect food choices. It was hypothesized that most food bloggers would not have a nutrition-related degree and food blog environments wouldn’t be supportive of health-conscious food choices. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a novel evaluation tool on 187 blogs, out of which 100 blogs met inclusion criteria. Because some blogs had multiple bloggers, two samples were investigated: 111 bloggers (n1 = 111) and 100 food blogs (n2 = 100). Data were gathered from a randomized list of blogs taken from americanfoodbloggers.com. Results showed that 6% of bloggers had a nutrition-related degree, 28% of blogs were health oriented, 24% of blogs provided nutrition facts, 56% of blogs had recipe rating systems, and 94% of blogs published sponsored content. The study suggested that food blogs and food bloggers may not promote healthy food choices. However, more research is required.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Health Sciences

Year dc:date.available

2018

Author dc:creator

• Coburn, Jessica

Contributors dc:contributor

• Anahita Mistry, Ph.D.
• Judith Brooks, Ph.D., R.D.

• food blog
• food blogger
• health
• nutrition
• nutrition credential
• recipe
• Mass Communication
• Public Health

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/1148

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-2497