Face2face weight loss6/10/2023 ![]() Norms may also explain why college students gained weight after exposure to peers who ate poorly, were physically inactive, and/or gained weight ( Madan, Moturu, Lazer, & Pentland, 2010). For example, young adults were more likely to report trying to lose weight if their friends were also trying to lose weight ( Leahey, Kumar, Weinberg, & Wing, 2012), and this association was mediated by members’ approval and encouragement for weight loss and sharing of information about weight loss ( Leahey et al., 2012). Social networks influence individuals’ weight status and weight-related behavior across the life span-from adolescence (e.g., Evans, Onnela, Williams, & Subramanian, 2016) to older adulthood (e.g., Watt et al., 2014). Users are selective about the health information they communicate on Facebook depending on the online audience ( Newman, Lauterbach, Munson, Resnick, & Morris, 2011) and the identity they wish to cultivate ( Lampinen, Tamminen, & Oulasvirta, 2009). For some, however, sharing personal health information is undesirable. While working toward health behavior change, individuals may share their experiences on Facebook and friends may provide support, which could reinforce individuals’ healthy identities. Individuals use Facebook to express their self-identity and affirm their sense of self ( Nadkarni & Hofmann, 2012 Toma & Hancock, 2013). college students use online social networking sites ( Smith & Zickuhr, 2011), with Facebook being the most popular ( Duggan, 2015). ![]() This area affords particular promise given that online social network influence has been linked to more positive weight-related outcomes, including increased physical activity and weight loss ( Greene, Choudhry, Kilabuk, & Shrank, 2011 Maher et al., 2015 Poncela-Casasnovas et al., 2015 Valle, Tate, Mayer, Allicock, & Cai, 2013), and that the use of online social networking sites is ubiquitous among young adults and college students.Īpproximately 84% of U.S. It is also not well understood how social media and online social networks can be leveraged to help young adults lose weight. Although there is some evidence that technology-based interventions are effective among this population (e.g., ( Allman-Farinelli et al., 2016 Bertz, Pacanowski, & Levitsky, 2015), limited research has tested the impact of using a suite of modalities such as text messaging, social media, and apps ( Hutchesson et al., 2015). Leveraging social and mobile technologies may be an effective approach to preventing weight gain and promoting weight loss among college students given their widespread use ( Anderson, 2015 Duggan, 2015 Perrin, 2015 Smith & Zickuhr, 2011). While in college most students gain weight and experience an increase in body fat ( Fedewa, Das, Evans, & Dishman, 2014) due in part to poor food choices and limited physical activity ( Nelson, Story, Larson, Neumark-Sztainer, & Lytle, 2008). For example, weight-loss trials should measure participants’ use of direct-to-consumer technologies and interconnectivity so that treatment effects can be isolated and cross-contamination accounted for.Īpproximately 40% of young adults living in the United States ages 18–24 years are enrolled in college ( U.S. The findings from this qualitative study can inform intervention trials using social and mobile technologies to promote weight loss. Although seeing others’ success online motivated many, there was a range of perceived acceptability in talking about personal health-related information on social media. Individuals talked about weight-loss goals with their friends face to face and felt accountable to follow through with their intentions. Participants in both groups reported using non-study-designed apps to help them lose weight, and many participants knew one another outside of the study. Treatment group participants appreciated the timely support provided by the study and the integration of content across multiple technologies. Interviews were analyzed using principles from grounded theory. ![]() Participants in the present study ( n = 20 treatment, n = 18 control) were approached after a measurement visit and administered semi-structured interviews. This study aimed to understand how college students participating in a 2-year randomized controlled trial (Project SMART: Social and Mobile Approach to Reduce Weight N = 404) engaged their social networks and used social and mobile technologies to try and lose weight. ![]()
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