(P22-010-24) College Student’s Experiences With the Magic and Myths of Gut Health

Objectives: Our objectives were to examine social media content on gut health, and to assess college students’ attitude, knowledge, information seeking behavior, and practices regarding gut health.

Methods: We used content analysis of TikTok, to understand social media message exposure, and student focus groups (n=29 in 3 groups) and a student survey (n=200; 183 completed surveys) were used to understand Ithaca College students’ attitudes, knowledge, and practices regarding gut health. Content of the top 20 TikTok videos with the hashtags #Guthealth, #Guthealthtips, and #Bloating was analyzed and coded for claim accuracy, creator type (fitness, holistic, or non-influencer), and for cultural literacy.

Results: Across all creator types, TikTok's frequency of accurate claims was less than 10%. Fitness influencers and holistic influencers had mostly inaccurate scientific claims, while non-influencers promoted products and solutions for poor gut health based solely on anecdotal evidence (ex. “this is what worked for me”). For cultural literacy, 18 of 20 TikTok creators were white, female, and appeared to be 20-30 years of age. In focus groups, most students expressed the importance of gut health, and reported both accurate and inaccurate gut health knowledge, but few supportive practices. From the survey, 76.6% agreed or strongly agreed that it is important “to eat specifically to improve gut health” and 92% reported that gut health is important for current- and 88% for future- health. Yet, 49% do not take the time “to seek out information”, and 49.9% of students reported that it is “too much trouble to eat for gut health”. Regarding knowledge, 68.6% reported at least one inaccurate food to support gut health. When asked what programming they would like to learn about gut health, students identified workshops, class, or YouTube videos.

Conclusions: TikTok’s most popular videos contain little accurate gut health advice from non-nutrition professionals. Students recognize the importance of gut health, but many do not have accurate knowledge, and report it is too much trouble to eat for gut health. These data suggest the need nutrition professionals to provide education on gut healthy eating practices for undergraduate college students.

Funding Sources: N/A