Effects of a weight management program delivered by social media on weight and metabolic syndrome risk factors in overweight and obese adults: A randomised controlled trial

Abstract

IntroductionThe aim of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of using social media to augment the delivery of, and provide support for, a weight management program delivered to overweight and obese individuals during a twenty four week intervention.MethodsParticipants randomly divided into either one of two intervention groups or a control group. The two intervention groups were instructed to follow identical weight-management program. One group received the program within a Facebook group, along with a support network with the group, and the other intervention group received the same program in a booklet. The control group was given standard care. Participants’ weight and other metabolic syndrome risk factors were measured at baseline and at weeks 6, 12, 18 and 24.ResultsThe Facebook Group reported a 4.8% reduction in initial weight, significant compared to the CG only (p = 0.01), as well as numerically greater improvements in body mass index, waist circumference, fat mass, lean mass, and energy intake compared to the Pamphlet Group and the Control Group.ConclusionsThese results demonstrate the potential of social media to assist overweight and obese individuals with respect to dietary and physical activity modifications for weight management, and justify further research into the inclusion of social media in clinical weight management programs. It is anticipated that social media will provide an invaluable resource for health professionals, as a low maintenance vehicle for communicating with patients, as well as a source of social support and information sharing for individuals undergoing lifestyle modifications.

Psychological effects of belonging to a Facebook weight management group in overweight and obese adults: Results of a randomised controlled trial

“…The between‐group differences in weight loss have been reported in a previous publication (Jane, et al, ). The current analysis reports the group × time effect to be consistent with the analysis of the psychological outcome measures, and as it is necessary for the mediation analysis that follows.…”

“…For further details, see Figure . The composition of the groups at baseline was presented with the initial report (Jane, et al, ). Additional baseline measurements, as well as the mean values for all outcome measures at each time point, are displayed in Table .…”

“…Our initial study was a clinical weight management trial conducted to investigate the potential of a Facebook group to assist overweight and obese participants in following a weight management programme; this study measured changes to weight and metabolic syndrome risk factors, with results reported in a previous publication (Jane, et al, ). During this weight management trial, a range of self‐reported psychometric measures were collected to assess changes to subjective well‐being and to identify the associations between these measures and weight changes, via mediation analysis.…”

Aerobic training combined with nutritional guidance as an effective strategy for improving aerobic fitness and reducing BMI in inactive adults

“…The use of social media in intervention projects has helped individuals lose weight [21]. In this intervention, Facebook was used in combination with classroom lessons.…”

Perspectives of adolescents with severe obesity on social Media in Preparation for weight-loss surgery: a qualitative study

“…Interventions using social networking have been shown to lead to reduction in BMI in adults with obesity and offer the potential to be much more practical for day-to-day use when compared to traditional approaches that include cost and time for travel [33,34]. This study coupled with prior work suggests the potential acceptability and feasibility of social media in the preoperative preparation process [18].…”