Social Media and Obesity in Adults: a Review of Recent Research and Future Directions

Waring, Molly E.; Jake‐Schoffman, Danielle E.; Holovatska, Marta M.; Mejía, Claudia Carolina Colmenares; Williams, Jamasia C.; Pagoto, Sherry L.

doi:10.1007/s11892-018-1001-9

Cited by 65 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…337 Valuable smartphone functionalities include the ability to receive and analyse data from sensors measuring activity or biological variables; access health information via the internet; and engage with social media to promote lifestyle change. 338 Increasingly, consumers are able to access elements of their electronic health records via their smartphone or other portable device, providing an important opportunity for consumer partnership and empowerment. However, smartphones are more expensive than basic mobiles and require an internet connection, so text messaging may be required to provide broader population access in some low-income settings.…”

Section: Digital Technologies For People With Mental Illnessmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Lancet Psychiatry Commission: a blueprint for protecting physical health in people with mental illness

Firth

Siddiqi

Koyanagi

et al. 2019

The Lancet Psychiatry

1,040

1,093

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Executive SummaryThe poor physical health of people with mental illness is a multi-faceted, transdiagnostic, and global problem. Physical health disparities are observed across the entire spectrum of mental illnesses, in low, middle-and high-income countries. This stems from both a heightened risk of physical diseases in people with mental illness, along with their reduced access to adequate healthcare. The high rates of physical comorbidities (and typically-poor clinical management of this) drastically reduces life expectancy, and also increases the personal, social and economic burden of illness across the lifespan.This Commission has brought together an international team of researchers, clinicians, and key stakeholders from various backgrounds and professionally / personally-relevant experience, in order to summarize advances in understanding on this topic, and present clear directions for health promotion, clinical care and future research. The breadth and multifactorial nature of physical health disparities across the range of mental health diagnoses poses an almost limitless number of potential considerations. Therefore, rather than attempting to cover all of the different possible combinations of physical-mental comorbidities individually, the aim of this Commission was to: (i) establish highlypertinent aspects of physical health-related morbidity and mortality which apply transdiagnostically, (ii) highlight the common modifiable factors driving these disparities, (iii) present actions and initiatives for health policy and clinical services to address these issues, and (iv) identify promising areas for future research towards discovering novel solutions. This was addressed across 5 different Parts of the Commission: Parts 1 and 2 determined the scope, priorities and key targets for physical health improvement across multiple mental illnesses. Parts 3, 4 and 5 discussed emerging strategies and produced recommendations for improving physical health outcomes in people with mental illness. Leaders and contributors for each Part are shown in the Appendix (pg.1) . Part 1: 'Its more than premature mortality'Part 1 identified almost 100 systematic reviews/meta-analyses examining the prevalence of physical comorbidities in mental illness. Around 70% of the meta-research focused on cardiometabolic diseases; consistently reporting that mental illnesses were associated with 1.4-to 2-fold increased risk for obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases compared to the general population. Although mostly studied in 'severe mental illness' ('SMI', and particularly psychotic disorders), the prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases was similarly elevated across a broad range of other diagnoses, including substance use disorders (SUDs), and 'common mental disorders' ('CMDs', such as depression and anxiety). Part 2: Key modifiable factors in health behaviours and health servicesPart 2 built on the findings of Part 1 with a hierarchal evidence synthesis of modifiable risk factors for physical diseases in mental illness. The bu...

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Section: Digital Technologies For People With Mental Illnessmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Lancet Psychiatry Commission: a blueprint for protecting physical health in people with mental illness

Firth

Siddiqi

Koyanagi

et al. 2019

The Lancet Psychiatry

1,040

1,093

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…In fact, nearly 90% of social media users aged 50 or older use Facebook and/or Twitter to find and share health information, and women are nearly three times more likely than men to seek health information on social media (18). Weight loss interventions using Facebook as a primary delivery modality for young adults have been found to be acceptable and feasible (19) but it remains unknown whether this type of program is appropriate for adult female cancer survivors, of whom 87% are at least 50 years old (2). However, acceptability and effectiveness of technology-based interventions for weight loss (20,21) and increasing physical activity (22) in older cancer survivors has been established.…”

Section: Original Articlementioning

confidence: 99%

Interest in and barriers to participation in a Facebook-delivered weight loss program among female cancer survivors with overweight or obesity

May¹,

Jake‐Schoffman

Evans³

et al. 2019

mHealth

Self Cite

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Background: Although excess body weight is linked to post-treatment complications for cancer survivors, obesity rates have increased rapidly among adult cancer survivors. Innovative approaches to weight loss programs, such as via social media, are needed to engage female cancer survivors. The purpose of this study is to explore important components of a Facebook-delivered weight loss program for female cancer survivors. Methods: Female cancer survivors who are overweight or obese and finished active treatment completed a web-based, mixed-methods survey. Results: Participants (N=96) were on average 54.3±9.6 years old, 89% white, 66% obese, and 87% tried to lose weight in the last year. Health concerns were the most important reason (88%) for wanting to lose weight. Barriers to weight loss included other health issues (52%) and perceived sacrifice/burden of weight loss process (35%). Qualitative themes for barriers included inability to make dietary changes (19%), lack of motivation (18%), and physical limitations (13%). Participants were most interested in a weight loss program delivered via Facebook (81%), led by a weight loss counselor (78%), provided healthy recipes (73%) and exercise videos (72%). Qualitative themes included information on cancer treatment effects (25%), calorie tracker (21%), and exercise modifications (17%). Qualitatively, concerns about weight loss included fear of cancer recurrence (20%) and lack of confidence in weight loss efforts (17%).

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“…For example, some studies focused on how patients would discuss information found online during interactions with their healthcare providers [6]. Recent research examined the impact of mobile and social media on health communication across a variety of health topics, such as the impact of online support groups for breast cancer survivors, and the use of mHealth to deliver lifestyle interventions and social support for weight loss [7,8].…”

Section: The Rise Of Peer-to-peer Communicationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Rather, health literacy encompasses the capacity to comprehend the information provided and the ability to act on that information to improve health outcomes [16,17]. The rise of peer-to-peer platforms has helped limited literacy individuals overcome traditional barriers related to accessing health information [8]. However, in doing so, new health literacy challenges have been introduced, including the added challenge of evaluating peer-provided health information.…”

Section: Health Literacy In the Context Of Online Peer-to-peer Communmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role and impact of health literacy on peer-to-peer health communication

Peterson

Gaysynsky

Chou

et al. 2019

ISU

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This chapter explores the impact and role of health literacy in peer-to-peer health communication contexts, such as social media platforms and online patient support groups. The chapter contends that health literacy efforts of researchers, health care providers, and public health practitioners will need to include innovative strategies to help consumers critically evaluate and appropriately utilize the health information found in online communities. The chapter first discusses the rise of peer-to-peer sharing of health information and accompanying health literacy concerns. Next, a series of case studies are presented that illustrate the potential role of health literacy in three different online settings: clinical trial patient support networks, social media channels, and personal blogs. The chapter then explores common themes highlighted in these examples and discusses the range of health literacy benefits and pitfalls that accompany the use of these channels for health information. Finally, the chapter explores existing individual-level and system-level health literacy initiatives for peer-to-peer health communication and suggests opportunities for future work in this area. Such efforts to address and improve health literacy can help individuals and communities successfully navigate online platforms where peer-to-peer health information is exchanged.

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Social Media and Obesity in Adults: a Review of Recent Research and Future Directions

Cited by 65 publications

References 82 publications

The Lancet Psychiatry Commission: a blueprint for protecting physical health in people with mental illness

The Lancet Psychiatry Commission: a blueprint for protecting physical health in people with mental illness

Interest in and barriers to participation in a Facebook-delivered weight loss program among female cancer survivors with overweight or obesity

The role and impact of health literacy on peer-to-peer health communication

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