Interest in a Twitter-delivered weight loss program among women of childbearing age
Authors
Waring, Molly E.Schneider, Kristin L.
Appelhans, Bradley M.
Moore Simas, Tiffany A.
Xiao, Rui
Whited, Matthew C.
Busch, Andrew M.
Evans, Martinus M.
Pagoto, Sherry L.
UMass Chan Affiliations
Prevention Research CenterDepartment of Medicine, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine
Department of Quantitative Health Sciences
Department of Pediatrics
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Document Type
Journal ArticlePublication Date
2016-06-01Keywords
UMCCTS fundingChildbearing
Obesity
Online social networks
Social media
Weight loss
Women
Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms
Health Communication
Health Information Technology
Health Psychology
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Social Media
Women's Health
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Weight management through the childbearing years is important, yet few women have access to efficacious weight loss programs. Online social network-delivered programs may increase reach and thus impact. The aim of this study was to gauge interest in a Twitter-based weight loss intervention among women of childbearing age and the feasibility of recruitment via Twitter. We recruited English-speaking women aged 18-45 years (N = 63) from Twitter to complete an anonymous online survey including open-ended questions about program advantages and concerns. Forty percent of participants were obese and 83 % were trying to lose weight. Eighty-one percent were interested in a Twitter-delivered weight loss program. Interest was high in all subgroups (62-100 %). Participants (59 %) cited program advantages, including convenience, support/accountability, and privacy. Concerns (59 %) included questions about privacy, support/accountability, engagement, efficacy, and technology barriers. Research is needed to develop and evaluate social media-delivered interventions, and to develop methods for recruiting participants directly from Twitter.Source
Transl Behav Med. 2016 Jun;6(2):277-84. doi: 10.1007/s13142-015-0382-4. Link to article on publisher's siteDOI
10.1007/s13142-015-0382-4Permanent Link to this Item
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/40021PubMed ID
27356998Related Resources
ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1007/s13142-015-0382-4