It’s true: Losing weight is hard. However, new research published in the journal Health Affairs reveals there may be an easier way to make the journey easier–by using social networking programs.
An analysis done by researchers from Imperial College London says that those who use social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, end up losing more weight because they receive more support in their journey–something that motivates them to keep up with their healthy eating habits.
Those who did not use social networking sites, however, did not lose as much weight.
“One advantage of using social media over other methods is that it offers the potential to be much more cost effective and practical for day-to-day use when compared to traditional approaches,” says Dr. Hutan Ashrafian, an Imperial College London health policy researcher and author of the study. “The feeling of being part of a community allows patients to draw on the support of their peers as well as clinicians. They can get advice from their doctor without the inconvenience or cost of having to travel, and clinicians can provide advice to many patients simultaneously.”
Studying a total of 12 studies, researchers specifically looked at trials which looked at how effective social networks were when it came to weight loss–whether that included an increase in weight loss, a higher chance of succeeding with a diet, or simply having more support while dieting. During the analysis, 1,884 participants were surveyed, whose weights varied. In the studies, participants used a multitude of networks, but the most popular ones included Facebook and Twitter.
While researchers had suspected social networks might play a role in improving a person’s ability to lose weight, their analysis proved it–showing that it reduced their body mass index, or BMI, by 0.64 percent. That may not sound significant, but a 150 pound person who reduces their BMI by that much loses around four to five pounds, enough to start reducing their risk of obesity-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes.
And it’s certainly more weight loss than those who didn’t use these services at all–they didn’t lose more weight on average.
“The studies we looked at were the first to investigate social media approaches to obesity,” says Ashrafian. “There needs to be more research into this area to see what approaches work best for which patients in light of the dramatic global adoption of social media tools and content. The use of social media to treat obesity encourages patients to be more pro-active and empowers them to contribute towards their own treatment.”
However, Ashrafian notes that social networks aren’t all positive–for instance, some networks, such as Facebook, could create potential privacy issues and can be hard to navigate, making then unsuitable for some people.
Still, the risk may be work it, according to researchers.
“It’s not the only solution to the obesity epidemic, but it should be introduced as an element of every country’s obesity strategy,” says Ashrafian.
What You Should Do
Need to lose weight now? First, make sure you’re on a diet that’s easy to follow. Then, if you’re still struggling, joining a support group or community on a social media network, such as Facebook, could help you stay focused on your journey.
Readers: Do you use social networks to help you lose weight?
Sources:
Study: Using Social Networks Helps People Lose More Weight – ScienceDaily.com
Want to Lose More Weight? Try Using a Social Networking Website – HealthAffairs.org
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