This is an exploratory cross-sectional study undertaken among college going student to explore the present usage of smart phones for accessing nutrition information and factors affecting it. Data has been collected from randomly selected 200 college students (105 boys and 95 girls) by administrating a questionnaire- cum interview schedule. The result revealed that statistically higher percentage of girls (58.9 %) than boys (41.0 %) were using their mobiles for obtaining nutrition information (χ2=6.46; p=0.011). Of these only 40.6 per cent subjects were reportedly induced behavior change subsequent to assessing nutrition information. Behavior changes induced were better food choices being made and better dietary habits. Most desired characteristics reported by students for encouraging access of nutrition information through smart phones were that information should be valid, authentic, attractive, creative, downloadable, unpaid with provision of off-line access. The frequency of use of smart phones for accessing nutrition information was positively associated with duration of usage of smart phones, perceived importance of nutrition in good health, use of smart phones for accessing emails and use of smart phones to search information as reported after applying Spearman Correlation. On the other hand participants who preferred seeking nutrition information from medical professionals did not prefer the use of smart phones for such information. It can be thus concluded that college going students in the present scenario are smart phone savvy and this can be successfully used as an opportunity for imparting nutrition education but its use is presently being undermined.
