b'Department of Nursing and Health SciencesThe Effect of Social Media Influencers on the Diet Choices ofPeople Aged 18-30Stephanie G. PetrilloSponsor: Heidi Gonzalez EDD, MSN, RN, CNE, CNLDue to the growing use of social media, influencers are prevalent in the lifestyles of young adults. Influencers function as role models for young people and may impact whether they make healthy or unhealthy diet choices. The purpose of this research was to better understand the effect of social media influencers on the diet choices of people aged 18-30. After IRB approval, the quantitative data was collected by distributing a survey to the student body at Valdosta State University. The data were analyzed using SPSS. The primary reason people aged 18-30 years viewed health posts from social media influencers were for weight loss tips, exercise plans, and to obtain healthier food recipes. The participants were more apt to change their diet if the influencer was attractive, famous, or if they had a large number of followers who were perceived as successful. A third of the participants stated they changed their diet at least once within the past year because of a social media influencer. Therefore, it is important for health professionals to understand the impact of influencers on the diet choices of young adults as nearly two-thirds of this population are overweight in the United States.46'