The Role of Social Media in Online Weight Management: Systematic Review

Abstract

BackgroundSocial media applications are promising adjuncts to online weight management interventions through facilitating education, engagement, and peer support. However, the precise impact of social media on weight management is unclear.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to systematically describe the use and impact of social media in online weight management interventions.MethodsPubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched for English-language studies published through March 25, 2013. Additional studies were identified by searching bibliographies of electronically retrieved articles. Randomized controlled trials of online weight management interventions that included a social media component for individuals of all ages were selected. Studies were evaluated using 2 systematic scales to assess risk of bias and study quality.ResultsOf 517 citations identified, 20 studies met eligibility criteria. All study participants were adults. Because the included studies varied greatly in study design and reported outcomes, meta-analysis of interventions was not attempted. Although message boards and chat rooms were the most common social media component included, their effect on weight outcomes was not reported in most studies. Only one study measured the isolated effect of social media. It found greater engagement of participants, but no difference in weight-related outcomes. In all, 65% of studies were of high quality; 15% of studies were at low risk of bias.ConclusionsDespite the widespread use of social media, few studies have quantified the effect of social media in online weight management interventions; thus, its impact is still unknown. Although social media may play a role in retaining and engaging participants, studies that are designed to measure its effect are needed to understand whether and how social media may meaningfully improve weight management.

Technology-Assisted Weight Loss Interventions in Primary Care: A Systematic Review

“…89 Another untapped area similarly lies in social media, for its peer support outlets. 90 We found it remarkable that few (2/16, 13 %) studies presented open-source or non-proprietary interventions. 63,73 Most websites and tools studied in trials are entirely unavailable to the practicing PCP, even though many patients could conceivably benefit from access.…”

Interest in a Twitter-delivered weight loss program among women of childbearing age

“…A recent systematic review of weight management interventions targeting women aged 18-35 years concluded that Bhigh-quality randomized controlled trials evaluating interventions that are tailored to the unique needs of young women, and that can be disseminated broadly, are urgently needed to address the unmet needs of this high-risk group.^ [33] One possible approach to addressing this critical research need is by reaching and intervening on obesity among women of childbearing age via Twitter. Online social networking in general is a novel, understudied weight loss tool [18], with great potential for impacting the obesity epidemic. Two recent systematic reviews indicated that online social networks have been primarily used as an adjunct to in-person or web-based weight loss interventions, rather than as the primary treatment modality [18,19].…”

“…Online social networking in general is a novel, understudied weight loss tool [18], with great potential for impacting the obesity epidemic. Two recent systematic reviews indicated that online social networks have been primarily used as an adjunct to in-person or web-based weight loss interventions, rather than as the primary treatment modality [18,19]. We recently conducted a series of pilot studies that demonstrated that delivering a weight loss intervention via a private Twitter group is feasible and acceptable [34].…”

“…Two recent systematic reviews indicated that online social networks have been primarily used as an adjunct to in-person or web-based weight loss interventions, rather than as the primary treatment modality [18,19]. In previous studies, greater engagement in these online social networks predicted greater weight loss [20][21][22][23].…”

Adapting a Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention for Delivery via Facebook: A Pilot Series Among Low-Income Postpartum Women (Preprint)

“…However, social media has been mostly used in combination with other delivery modalities (e.g. in-person groups, text messages) [6,[32][33][34], and few studies have evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of delivering a weight loss intervention solely via a publicly available social media network (e.g. Twitter, Facebook) [23,25].…”