Losing weight is undoubtedly a difficult task.
Now research from Northwestern University reveals an easy way to increase your weight loss–by getting “social.”
According to their findings, published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, people who were highly active on online weight management sites lost 8 percent more body weight than those who preferred to be “Internet loners.”
Now researchers say staying active online could be one of the best ways to keep weight loss high–though it won’t help you lose weight if you haven’t already started.
“Our findings suggest that people can do very well at losing weight with minimal professional help when they become centrally connected to others on the same weight loss journey,” says Bonnie Spring, a professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine and author of the study. “I was very surprised by how lawfully each step-up in social connectedness translated into greater weight loss. We could clearly see the benefit of the online social network for weight-loss success.”
The Research
For the study, Spring collected data about users from CalorieKing.com, an online weight management community. Here Spring analyzed their weight loss and how often they weighed in, accepted friend requests, and communicated with other members–signs of a highly active “social” individual.
From here, they looked at how much weight they lost over a 6 month period.
While, not surprisingly, research showed that most of the participants who used the site lost weight–using weight management websites have been shown to increase weight loss–they also found something surprising. Those who were the most socially active on the site lost up to 8 percent of their body weight, whereas those who were not active lost around 5 percent.
For researchers, these findings are significant.
“We found that the frequency with which you report your weight is a good indicator of positive outcomes,” says Luis A. Nunes Amaral, senior author of the study. “If you monitor your weight, you are engaged. If you communicate online with other people you are even more engaged, and when you need support you might be able to get it. There are some nice characteristics about this social network.”
Amaral also notes that weight management websites, such as CalorieKing.com, are also useful for another reason–it allows people to join a weight loss “group” even if they’re unable to attend in-person meetings. Instead, connecting is as easy as logging online, something millions of Americans do everyday.
And that, to Amaral, could be life-changing.
“Modern life is so complex and stressful, to go somewhere for a meeting is often not practical,” says Amaral. “It is hopeful that this alternative approach, of going online for support, could work.”
Want to try it for yourself? CalorieKing.com is currently accepting new applicants, but be warned that it only accepts members based on different membership fees. Membership-free weight management groups also exist, however–make sure to check out websites such as Fitocracy or MyFitnessPal.
Readers: Have you tried joining a weight management group before? If so, how did it work out for you?
Sources:
Dieters Who Make More Connections in Online Weight-Loss Communities Lose More Weight – ScienceDaily.com
‘Friending’ Your Way Thin: Dieters Making More Connections in Online Weight-Loss Group Lose More Weight – Northwestern.edu
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