title: Interest in a Twitter-delivered weight loss program among women of childbearing age.
abstract: Weight management through the childbearing years is important, yet few women have access to efficacious weight loss programs. Online social network-delivered programs may increase reach and thus impact. The aim of this study was to gauge interest in a Twitter-based weight loss intervention among women of childbearing age and the feasibility of recruitment via Twitter. We recruited English-speaking women aged 18-45 years (N = 63) from Twitter to complete an anonymous online survey including open-ended questions about program advantages and concerns. Forty percent of participants were obese and 83 % were trying to lose weight. Eighty-one percent were interested in a Twitter-delivered weight loss program. Interest was high in all subgroups (62-100 %). Participants (59 %) cited program advantages, including convenience, support/accountability, and privacy. Concerns (59 %) included questions about privacy, support/accountability, engagement, efficacy, and technology barriers. Research is needed to develop and evaluate social media-delivered interventions, and to develop methods for recruiting participants directly from Twitter.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases and Vulnerable Populations, Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, AS8-1077, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA. molly.waring@umassmed.edu.|Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA. molly.waring@umassmed.edu.
authors.forename: Molly E
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9884-9824
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Waring
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science, North Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Kristin L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Bradley M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Appelhans
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.|Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Tiffany A Moore
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Simas
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases and Vulnerable Populations, Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, AS8-1077, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
authors.forename: Rui S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Whited
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.|Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Busch
authors.affiliation: Division of Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Martinus M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: Division of Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Sherry L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Pagoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D061108:Social Media; D012944:Social Support; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Childbearing; Obesity; Online social networks; Social media; Twitter; Weight loss; Women