Help me, I'm fat! Social support in online weight loss networks

Abstract

Social networks have become an increasingly common way for people to share information and seek emotional support for issues surrounding weight loss. This study aims to explore how users of a commercial social networking site who are focussed on weight loss give and/or receive social support to/from other users. The authors use quantitative data from 145 members of the Weight Watchers Facebook page to explore how social support is both given and received, and the communication style by which this is achieved. This study reveals three groups-Passive Recipients, Active Supporters and Casual Browsers. Passive Recipients receive a high level of informational and emotional support but do so by being passive communicators. Active Supporters also receive a high level of both informational and emotional support yet are more active in their communication style. Casual Browsers receive little social support and exhibit a passive communication style. Thus, the authors find evidence that even though members of a social network may share a common interest, the way members choose to participate and interact, and the benefits they accrue by doing so differ substantially.

Usage of Facebook-and Anonymous Forum -- Based Peer Support Groups Online and Their Influence on Perceived Social Support Types in Weight Loss

“…First, the results enrich the discussion about functional social support types in the online environment and their dependence on the delivery platform. The study results confirm the findings that OSGs in Facebook [1,35] and in online forums [16][17][18] can provide a venue for their members to give and receive social support, particularly emotional and informational support. The study results also show that instrumental support can be shared through the online environment, in contrast to the findings of Hwang et al [18].…”

“…Through the use of social networking site (Facebook), the young adults were able to expand their food choices by finding new inspirations for cooking and were encouraged by social media to make positive food choices. A study inspecting Weight Watchers' Facebook page concluded that the Facebook community could provide a venue for its members to give and/or receive emotional and informational support [1]. Based on this and the discussion in Section 2.1, we suggest the following hypotheses: Although emotional and informational support can be found in both kinds of platforms, there is some evidence that these channels differ in the functional support types that they primarily provide.…”

“…Table 1 presents the scales used in this study. The scales used by Ballantine and Stephenson [1] were adapted to measure emotional and informational support in the context of this study. The emotional s uppo rt m easure s wer e de velope d by Hwa ng e t al .…”

Social commerce: The transfer of power from sellers to buyers

“…These two dimensions shape online social support. Social interactions of consumers through social media generate both emotional and informational support (Ballantine & Stephenson, 2011). Emotional and informational support are the two main dimensions of social support in an online context (Hajli, 2014b).…”

Comparative Analysis of Facebook and Instagram as Web Promotion Tools

“…Social media allows marketers to build a public vote, website presence and strengthen other communications. By using social media, consumers can create content, offer valuable advice to others, exchange information, and generate social support [5][6] [7] [8].…”