Keywords

Dietary messaging; YouTube health content; South Asian health; Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus; Cultural framing; Online diabetes education

Abstract

While South Asians experience a disproportionately high risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), culturally tailored dietary guidance remains limited within healthcare settings. As digital platforms increasingly serve as sources of health information, YouTube has grown as a prominent space for the publishing and consumption of dietary advice. This study examines how diet-related messaging about T2DM is communicated in YouTube videos directed at South Asian populations.

Using qualitative thematic analysis, 21 videos published between 2016 and 2025 by influencers with a wide reach were analyzed. Videos were selected based on relevance to South Asian audiences, focus on dietary management of T2DM, language accessibility, and engagement thresholds. Transcripts were coded using iterative open and axial coding to identify recurring themes, narratives, and evidence usage. Dominant patterns found included the framing of food as a direct therapeutic agent, the blending of biomedical terminology with traditional and Ayurvedic concepts, and the integration of commercial product promotion within health guidance. Many videos included simplified physiological explanations and emphasized natural remedies, often using powerful language with high certainty and emotional appeals of empowerment and urgency. This study contributes to research on digital health communication by highlighting how culturally resonant messaging and biomedical discourse are presented on YouTube. Understanding these patterns is critical for developing culturally responsive, evidence-based interventions and improving media literacy among South Asian communities managing T2DM.

Thesis Completion Year

2026

Thesis Completion Semester

Spring

Thesis Chair

Miller, Ann

College

College of Sciences

Thesis Discipline

Health Communication

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus Access

None

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

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