Using Facebook and Text Messaging to Deliver a Weight Loss Program to College Students

Abstract

Objective: Between 31 and 35% of the college-aged population is overweight or obese, yet few weight loss trials for this population have been conducted. This study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and initial efficacy of a technology-based 8-week weight loss intervention among college students. Design and Methods: Students (N ¼ 52) were randomly assigned to one of the three arms: Facebook (n ¼ 17); Facebook Plus text messaging and personalized feedback (n ¼ 18); Waiting List control (n ¼ 17), with assessments at 4 weeks and 8 weeks (post-treatment). Participants were 20.47 6 2.19 years old, 86.45 6 17.11 kg, with a body mass index of 31.36 6 5.3 kg/m 2 . Participants were primarily female (86.5%), and the sample was racially diverse (57.7% Caucasian, 30.8% African American, 5.8% Hispanic, and 5.7% other races). Results: The primary outcome was weight loss after 8 weeks (post-treatment); 96.0% of the participants completed this assessment. At 8 weeks, the Facebook Plus group had significantly greater weight loss (À2.4 6 2.5 kg) than the Facebook (À0.63 6 2.4 kg) and Waiting List (À0.24 6 2.6 kg) (both Ps < 0.05). Weight change at 8 weeks was not significantly different between the Facebook and Waiting List groups. Conclusions: Results show preliminary efficacy and acceptability of the two active intervention arms (97.0% found the program helpful, 81.3% found the videos/handouts helpful, and 100% would recommend the program to others). Results indicate the potential for an innovative weight loss intervention that uses technology platforms (Facebook and text messaging) that are frequently used and already integrated into the cultural life of college students.

Technology-based interventions in the treatment of overweight and obesity: A systematic review

“…Most studies were conducted in the United States of America (N ¼ 18) (Agras et al, 1990;Allen et al, 2013;Appel et al, 2011;Burke et al, 2012;Cadmus-Bertram et al, 2013;Chambliss et al, 2011;Goulis et al, 2004;Harvey-Berino et al, 2010;Haugen et al, 2007;Herring Jeffery et al, 2003;Johnston et al, 2012;Napolitano et al, 2013;Norman et al, 2013;Sherwood et al, 2006Sherwood et al, , 2010Shuger et al, 2011;Svetkey et al, 2008). Four studies were conducted in Australia (Blomfield et al, 2014;Collins et al, 2012;Hutchesson et al, 2014;Morgan et al, 2011), one study in China (Lin et al, 2014), one study in Japan (Tanaka et al, 2010), one study in the United Kingdom (Donaldson et al, 2014) and two studies in Germany (Luley et al, 2011;Mehring et al, 2013).…”

“…The total sample size was N ¼ 5747. The majority of the studies were randomised controlled trials (RCT's) (Agras et al, 1990;Allen et al, 2013;Appel et al, 2011;Blomfield et al, 2014;Burke et al, 2012;Cadmus-Bertram et al, 2013;Chambliss et al, 2011;Collins et al, 2012;Donaldson et al, 2014;Goulis et al, 2004;Harvey-Berino et al, 2010;Herring et al, 2014;Hutchesson et al, 2014;Jeffery et al, 2003;Johnston et al, 2012;Lin et al, 2014;Luley et al, 2011;Morgan et al, 2011;Napolitano et al, 2013;Norman et al, 2013;Sherwood et al, 2006Sherwood et al, , 2010Shuger et al, 2011;Svetkey et al, 2008;Tanaka et al, 2010). One study was a cluster-randomised trial (Mehring et al, 2013), one study a quasiexperiment (Haugen et al, 2007) and one a controlled cohort study (Donaldson et al, 2014).…”

“…Four studies were excluded because the control group received an intervention with technology aspect (Carter, Burley, Nykjaer, & Cade, 2013;Laing et al, 2014;Shaw et al, 2013;Steinberg, Levine, Askew, Foley, & Bennett, 2013). Twenty-seven trials met inclusion criteria (Agras, Taylor, Feldman, Losch, & Burnett, 1990;Allen, Stephens, Dennison Himmelfarb, Stewart, & Hauck, 2013;Appel et al, 2011;Blomfield et al, 2014;Burke et al, 2012;Cadmus-Bertram et al, 2013;Chambliss et al, 2011;Collins et al, 2012;Donaldson, Fallows, & Morris, 2014;Goulis et al, 2004;Harvey-Berino et al, 2010;Haugen, Tran, Wyatt, Barry, & Hill, 2007;Herring, Cruice, Bennett, Davey, & Foster, 2014;Hutchesson et al, 2014;Jeffery et al, 2003;Johnston, Massey, & DeVaneaux, 2012;Lin et al, 2014;Luley, Blaik, Reschke, Klose, & Westphal, 2011;Mehring et al, 2013;Morgan, Lubans, Collins, Warren, & Callister, 2011;Napolitano, Hayes, Bennett, Ives, & Foster, 2013;Norman, Kolodziejczyk, Adams, Patrick, & Marshall, 2013;Sherwood et al, 2006;Sherwood, Jeffery, Welsh, Vanwormer, & Hotop, 2010;Shuger et al, 2011;Svetkey et al, 2008;Tanaka, Adachi, Adachi, & Sato, 2010) and were included in this review. The total study selection process is shown in Fig.…”

“…Control groups consisted of usual care, wait-list control or a minimal intervention. Seven studies made use of a wait-list control group (Appel et al, 2011;Blomfield et al, 2014;Chambliss et al, 2011;Collins et al, 2012;Haugen et al, 2007;Hutchesson et al, 2014;Napolitano et al, 2013) … Six studies used a minimal intervention (Cadmus-Bertram et al, 2013;Herring et al, 2014;Morgan et al, 2011;Norman et al, 2013;Sherwood et al, 2010;Svetkey et al, 2008).…”

Digital Social Networks and Health

“…More recently, Schein et al 35 conducted a systematic literature review and identified only 1 controlled intervention study on social media and health outcomes and it failed to isolate the impact of social media in a larger communication campaign. Since that review, Napolitano et al 39 conducted a small randomized clinical trial of weight loss program delivered through a private Facebook group, a similar Facebook group plus text messaging and personalized feedback, and a wait list control condition among college students. At 4-and 8-week follow-up, participants in the Facebook Plus group had significantly more weight loss than members of either the Facebook or wait list comparison groups.…”