title: Social embeddedness in an online weight management programme is linked to greater weight loss.
abstract: The obesity epidemic is heightening chronic disease risk globally. Online weight management (OWM) communities could potentially promote weight loss among large numbers of people at low cost. Because little is known about the impact of these online communities, we examined the relationship between individual and social network variables, and weight loss in a large, international OWM programme. We studied the online activity and weight change of 22,419 members of an OWM system during a six-month period, focusing especially on the 2033 members with at least one friend within the community. Using Heckman's sample-selection procedure to account for potential selection bias and data censoring, we found that initial body mass index, adherence to self-monitoring and social networking were significantly correlated with weight loss. Remarkably, greater embeddedness in the network was the variable with the highest statistical significance in our model for weight loss. Average per cent weight loss at six months increased in a graded manner from 4.1% for non-networked members, to 5.2% for those with a few (two to nine) friends, to 6.8% for those connected to the giant component of the network, to 8.3% for those with high social embeddedness. Social networking within an OWM community, and particularly when highly embedded, may offer a potent, scalable way to curb the obesity epidemic and other disorders that could benefit from behavioural changes.
authors: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA HHMI, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Poncela-Casasnovas
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors: Bonnie
authors: B
authors: Spring
authors: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA HHMI, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: McClary
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA Department of Psychology, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL 60616, USA.
authors: Arlen C
authors: AC
authors: Moller
authors: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
authors: Rufaro
authors: R
authors: Mukogo
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors: Christine A
authors: CA
authors: Pellegrini
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Coons
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors: Miriam
authors: M
authors: Davidson
authors: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA Northwestern Institute on Complex Systems, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
authors: Satyam
authors: S
authors: Mukherjee
authors: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA HHMI, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA Northwestern Institute on Complex Systems, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA amaral@northwestern.edu.
authors: Luis A
authors: LA
authors: Nunes Amaral
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012919:Social Behavior; D060756:Social Networking; D012944:Social Support; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs / Q000379:methods*
keywords: complex networks; modelling; obesity; weight loss
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