Transl Behav Med. 2016 Jul 21. [Epub ahead of print]

Weight loss support seeking on twitter: the impact of weight on follow back rates and interactions.

May CN1,2, Waring ME3,4, Rodrigues S5, Oleski JL6, Olendzki E6, Evans M6, Carey J7, Pagoto SL6.

Author information

• 1Division of Preventative and Behavioral Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA. Christine.May@umassmed.edu.
• 2Division of Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases and Vulnerable Populations, Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA. Christine.May@umassmed.edu.
• 3Division of Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases and Vulnerable Populations, Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
• 4Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
• 5Division of Addiction, Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, USA.
• 6Division of Preventative and Behavioral Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA.
• 7Division of Medical Toxicology, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.

Abstract

People seek weight loss support on online social networks, but little is known about how to build a supportive community. We created four Twitter accounts portraying women interested in weight loss (two obese, two normal weight/overweight) and followed health care professional and peer accounts for 2-5 weeks. We examined follow back rates, interactions, and organic follows from professionals and peers by weight status. Follow back rates did not differ by weight status when following professionals (6.8 % normal weight/overweight vs 11.0 % for obese; p = 0.4167) or peers (6.7 % for normal weight/overweight vs 10.8 % for obese; p = 0.1548). Number of interactions and organic followers also did not differ by weight status. Peers interacted with study accounts significantly more than professionals (p = 0.0138), but interactions were infrequent. Women seeking weight loss support on Twitter may need to be present for more than 5 weeks to build an interactive weight loss community.