ArticleJMIR research protocols2015
Twitter-Delivered Behavioral Weight-Loss Interventions: A Pilot Series.
Article in JMIR research protocols, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT03961061 (Increased Monitoring of Physical Activity and Calories With Technology), which is not on this map. Cited by 38 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Increased Monitoring of Physical Activity and Calories With Technology
Who cites it
38 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Lifestyle interventions based on the diabetes prevention program delivered via eHealth: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Preventive medicine · 2017Pooled it
- Do weight management interventions delivered by online social networks effectively improve body weight, body composition, and chronic disease risk factors? A systematic review.Journal of telemedicine and telecare · 2017Pooled it
- Randomized non-inferiority trial comparing an asynchronous remotely-delivered versus clinic-delivered lifestyle intervention.International journal of obesity (2005) · 2025Trial
- Delivering a Postpartum Weight Loss Intervention via Facebook or In-Person Groups: Results From a Randomized Pilot Feasibility Trial.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2023Trial
- Social Network Analysis of the Effects of a Social Media-Based Weight Loss Intervention Targeting Adults of Low Socioeconomic Status: Single-Arm Intervention Trial.Journal of medical Internet research · 2021Trial
- Clinical Trial Recruitment and Retention of College Students with Type 1 Diabetes via Social Media: An Implementation Case Study.Journal of diabetes science and technology · 2019Trial
- Using social media to deliver weight loss programming to young adults: Design and rationale for the Healthy Body Healthy U (HBHU) trial.Contemporary clinical trials · 2017Trial
- Development of a Novel Web-Based Intervention Targeting Pain-Related Outcomes in Individuals With Chronic Orofacial Pain: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study.JMIR research protocols · 2025Article
- Exploring the Acceptability of the STOP Method for Addressing Weight Loss Misinformation on Social Media: An Interview Study.Obesity science & practice · 2025Article
- The Mobile lifestyle intervention for food and exercise (mLife) study: Protocol of a remote behavioral weight loss randomized clinical trial for type 2 diabetes prevention.Contemporary clinical trials · 2025Article
- Best Practices for Designing and Testing Behavioral and Health Communication Interventions for Delivery in Private Facebook Groups: Tutorial.JMIR formative research · 2024Article
- Ethical and Information Governance Considerations for Promoting Digital Social Interventions in Primary Care.Journal of medical Internet research · 2023Article
- The Relationship Between How Participants Articulate Their Goals and Accomplishments and Weight Loss Outcomes: Secondary Analysis of a Pilot of a Web-Based Weight Loss Intervention.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2023Article
- Article
- Engaging primary care patients with existing online tools for weight loss: A pilot trial.Obesity science & practice · 2022Article
- Predicting Participant Engagement in a Social Media-Delivered Lifestyle Intervention Using Microlevel Conversational Data: Secondary Analysis of Data From a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR formative research · 2022Article
- Feedback on Instagram posts for a gestational weight gain intervention.Translational behavioral medicine · 2022Article
- A Facebook-Delivered Weight Loss Intervention Using Open Enrollment: Randomized Pilot Feasibility Trial.JMIR formative research · 2022Article
- Metabolic Surgery Supporting Aftercare via Group-Intervention (MeSSAGES): study protocol of a randomised controlled trial.BMJ open · 2021Article
- Feasibility of a social media-based weight loss intervention designed for low-SES adults.Translational behavioral medicine · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundLifestyle interventions are efficacious at reducing risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease but have not had a significant public health impact given high cost and patient and provider burden.
objectiveOnline social networks may reduce the burden of lifestyle interventions to the extent that they displace in-person visits and may enhance opportunities for social support for weight loss.
methodsWe conducted an iterative series of pilot studies to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of using online social networks to deliver a lifestyle intervention.
resultsIn Study 1 (n=10), obese participants with depression received lifestyle counseling via 12 weekly group visits and a private group formed using the online social network, Twitter. Mean weight loss was 2.3 pounds (SD 7.7; range -19.2 to 8.2) or 1.2% (SD 3.6) of baseline weight. A total of 67% (6/9) of participants completing exit interviews found the support of the Twitter group at least somewhat useful. In Study 2 (n=11), participants were not depressed and were required to be regular users of social media. Participants lost, on average, 5.6 pounds (SD 6.3; range -15 to 0) or 3.0% (SD 3.4) of baseline weight, and 100% (9/9) completing exit interviews found the support of the Twitter group at least somewhat useful. To explore the feasibility of eliminating in-person visits, in Study 3 (n=12), we delivered a 12-week lifestyle intervention almost entirely via Twitter by limiting the number of group visits to one, while using the same inclusion criteria as that used in Study 2. Participants lost, on average, 5.4 pounds (SD 6.4; range -14.2 to 3.9) or 3.0% (SD 3.1) of baseline weight, and 90% (9/10) completing exit interviews found the support of the Twitter group at least somewhat useful. Findings revealed that a private Twitter weight-loss group was both feasible and acceptable for many patients, particularly among regular users of social media.
conclusionsFuture research should evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of online social network-delivered lifestyle interventions relative to traditional modalities.
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Registered trials
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