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Twitter-Delivered Behavioral Weight-Loss Interventions: A Pilot Series
Sherry L Pagoto1, Molly E Waring, Kristin L Schneider
1Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States. Sherry.Pagoto@umassmed.edu.
JMIR Research Protocols
|October 27, 2015
Summary
Online social networks like Twitter offer a feasible and acceptable way to deliver lifestyle interventions for weight loss. These platforms can reduce intervention burden and enhance social support, particularly for social media users.
Area of Science:
- Digital Health
- Behavioral Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Lifestyle interventions effectively reduce risks for diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
- Current interventions face challenges in public health impact due to high costs and patient/provider burden.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of using online social networks for lifestyle intervention delivery.
- To explore reducing the burden of lifestyle interventions by displacing in-person visits.
- To enhance social support opportunities for weight loss through online platforms.
Main Methods:
- An iterative series of pilot studies were conducted.
- Online social networks, specifically Twitter, were used to deliver lifestyle interventions.
- Studies varied in participant criteria and the extent of in-person versus online delivery.
Main Results:
- Pilot studies demonstrated feasibility and acceptability of private Twitter groups for weight loss.
- Participants achieved modest weight loss, with greater success among regular social media users.
- High percentages of participants found the Twitter group support useful, particularly in studies minimizing in-person contact.
Conclusions:
- Online social network-delivered lifestyle interventions are feasible and acceptable, especially for social media-savvy individuals.
- Future research should focus on efficacy and cost-effectiveness compared to traditional methods.
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