Buddy system meets app: new study tests digital peer support for student health
NCT ID NCT06966661
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether adding peer support and online education helps college students manage their weight and improve their mood. Researchers enrolled 216 full-time students aged 18-25 with a BMI of 24 or higher and randomly assigned them to one of three groups: standard health education alone, standard education plus peer mentor meetings and an online chat group, or standard education plus a custom app with lessons, expert Q&A, and self-tracking. Weight, BMI, depression, anxiety, and life satisfaction were measured over six months to see which approach works best.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Peer support and e-health intervention (behavioral)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward low-cost, scalable programs that help college students maintain a healthy weight and emotional well-being.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed study with 216 participants, but results are not yet widely known. The effects may be modest and may not apply to all students or settings.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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School of Physical Education, Jinan University
Guangzhou, New Territories, China
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