Title |
Weight loss support seeking on twitter: the impact of weight on follow back rates and interactions
|
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Published in |
Translational Behavioral Medicine, July 2016
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DOI | 10.1007/s13142-016-0429-1 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Christine N. May, Molly E. Waring, Stephanie Rodrigues, Jessica L. Oleski, Effie Olendzki, Martinus Evans, Jennifer Carey, Sherry L. Pagoto |
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. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 10 | 40% |
United Kingdom | 1 | 4% |
Australia | 1 | 4% |
Canada | 1 | 4% |
Unknown | 12 | 48% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 14 | 56% |
Scientists | 8 | 32% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 2 | 8% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 1 | 4% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Australia | 1 | 2% |
Unknown | 54 | 98% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Bachelor | 9 | 16% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 8 | 15% |
Student > Master | 7 | 13% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 5 | 9% |
Student > Postgraduate | 3 | 5% |
Other | 9 | 16% |
Unknown | 14 | 25% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Medicine and Dentistry | 11 | 20% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 6 | 11% |
Social Sciences | 4 | 7% |
Psychology | 4 | 7% |
Computer Science | 3 | 5% |
Other | 10 | 18% |
Unknown | 17 | 31% |