The University of Maryland's Public Health Informatics Research Laboratory and Maryland Cooperative Extension have collaborated on a nutrition education demonstration project featuring the Eat Smart, Be Fit, Maryland! Website, a health promotion tool developed as part of the Eat Smart, Be Fit, Maryland! project. This website features nutrition and physical activity information and tools, as well as food budgeting resources and local information for Marylanders.
Initial needs assessment data was used to determine priority areas to include in the web portal, a thematic concept, and website name. Three rounds of testing with the target population were conducted, using community member feedback, prior to the 2004 website launch. From 2004-2006, we piloted three intervention arms in three Maryland Counties to promote awareness of and collect website feedback. Based on the effectiveness studies, a combined community approach was used for disseminating the website, and the website was expanded to reflect a statewide audience. Process and outcome evaluation are used to assess effectiveness, and user's behavior change and satisfaction is measured.
The Eat Smart, Be Fit Maryland! Web site is designed to teach users how to be healthy.