Effect of internet-based health management intervention among college students with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Objective To explore the effect of an internet-based health management intervention among college students with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).Methods Totally 120 colleges students identified with NAFLD at entrance physical examination were recruited in 2014 and randomly divided into an intervention group (60) receiving professional management and guidance on physical exercise and dietary pattern via micro-blog,QQ groups and wechat combined with conventional interventions conducted by health promotion volunteers and a control group (60) only receiving routine health management service for college students.One year after the intervention,health status and behavior of the participants were surveyed and compared between the two groups.Results One year after the intervention,the number of participants with improved signs of NAFLD in B ultrasound examination was significantly greater than that of the control group (31 vs.13, χ²=11.63;P=0.000).The body mass index (BMI),triglyceride (TG),total cholesterol (TC),low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were all lower significantly than those before the intervention for the participants of the intervention group (t_BMI=2.845,t_TG=2.145,t_TC=2.960,t_LDL-C=2.107;P<0.05 for all),except for high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)(t=1.857,P>0.05);but no significant variations in the indicators were observed though all the indexes were decreased among the participants of control group (P>0.05).Significant changes in physical exercise,dietary behavior,and life style were observed among the participants of intervention group (χ_{physical exercise}²=38.58,χ_{dietary behavior}²=56.05, χ_{life style}²=49.69;P<0.05 for all);whereas a significant change in dietary behavior was observed among the participants of control group (χ²=4.09,P<0.05).Conclusion The internet-based health management intervention combined with offline conventional interventions could help college students with NAFLD in adopting health behaviors and alleviating the condition.