BACKGROUND
Although previous studies have highlighted the negative effects of the promotion of unhealthy food and beverages on social media, there is limited understanding regarding the role of social media to develop social influence that can trigger social learning for the development of healthy lifestyle behaviour. This study intends to contribute by upgrading the knowledge on how advance social platforms can act as an effective educational medium for health professionals to engage with a community about healthy nutrition and lifestyle.
OBJECTIVE
This study intends to contribute by upgrading the knowledge on how advance social platforms can act as an effective educational medium for health professionals to engage with a community about healthy nutrition and lifestyle.
METHODS
The study took a social constructionist approach because such an approach can improve understanding of the social context of food consumption, living habits, use of social media and awareness about healthy lifestyle behaviour in the context of Saudi Arabia. This study collected data from health professionals (dietitians, psychiatrists, nutritionists) as well as the general public of Saudi Arabia using focus groups discussion and semi-structured interviews.
RESULTS
The findings of this study reveal that information and knowledge sharing among celebrities, friends, friends of friends, health professionals and patients created a social wave to learn from each other’s experiences and develop the motivation to practice healthy lifestyle behaviour. The painful stories of patients, warnings of health professionals, and the benefits of compliance with social influence led to improvements in health (happy mood, low diabetes and blood pressure, better mental condition) and increased motivation in the community to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviour.
CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study reveal that information and knowledge sharing among celebrities, friends, friends of friends, health professionals and patients created a social wave to learn from each other’s experiences and develop the motivation to practice healthy lifestyle behaviour. The painful stories of patients, warnings of health professionals, and the benefits of compliance with social influence led to improvements in health (happy mood, low diabetes and blood pressure, better mental condition) and increased motivation in the community to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviour.