Social networking strategies that aim to reduce obesity have achieved significant although modest results
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The global epidemic of obesity continues to escalate. Obesity accounts for an increasing proportion of the international socioeconomic burden of noncommunicable disease. Online social networking services provide an effective medium through which information may be exchanged between obese and overweight patients and their health care providers, potentially contributing to superior weight-loss outcomes. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the role of these services in modifying body mass index (BMI). Our analysis of twelve studies found that interventions using social networking services produced a modest but significant 0.64 percent reduction in BMI from baseline for the 941 people who participated in the studies’ interventions. We recommend that social networking services that target obesity should be the subject of further clinical trials. Additionally, we recommend that policy makers adopt reforms that promote the use of anti-obesity social networking services, facilitate multistakeholder partnerships in such services, and create a supportive environment to confront obesity and its associated noncommunicable diseases.
Date Issued
2014-09-01
Date Acceptance
2014-09-01
Citation
Health Affairs, 2014, 33 (9), pp.1641-1647
ISSN
0278-2715
Publisher
Project HOPE
Start Page
1641
End Page
1647
Journal / Book Title
Health Affairs
Volume
33
Issue
9
Copyright Statement
©2014 Project HOPE—The People-to-People Health Foundation, Inc.
Sponsor
National Institute for Health Research
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000343401600019&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
NF-SI-0510-10186
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Health Care Sciences & Services
Health Policy & Services
RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED-TRIAL
LIFE-STYLE MODIFICATION
WEIGHT-LOSS
PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY
INTERNET
OVERWEIGHT
INTERVENTION
ADOLESCENTS
EFFICACY
PROGRAM
Publication Status
Published