American International Journal of Social Science

Understanding the Implications of Information Literacy in Obesity and Health
Kristin L. Woods, PhD

Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between computer expertise and health in the Black Belt region of Alabama. A Pearson correlation indicated a small, negative relationship (r(304)=.-161, p=.002) between basal metabolic index (BMI) and computer expertise (CE) score. After controlling for demographic variables, search engine knowledge, laptop use, and obtaining health information from television were found to be significant predictors of BMI. With the abundance of health information now available on the Internet, knowing how to use a search engine is a key aspect of health literacy. Since basic literacy is a foundation of both health literacy and information literacy, the results of this study emphasize the importance of various types of literacy in improving health and overall quality of life.

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