BACKGROUND
Evidence in the literature surrounding obesity suggests social factors have a substantial role in the spread of obesity. Social ties with a friend who is obese increases the probability of an individual becoming obese. The role of social media in this dynamic remains underexplored in obesity research. Given the rapid proliferation of social media in recent years, individuals socialize through social media and share their health-related daily routines, including dieting and exercising. Thus, it is timely and imperative to review previous studies focused on social factors in social media and obesity.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to examine online social factors in relation to obesity research.
METHODS
A systematic review was conducted. We searched PubMed, ACM, and ScienceDirect for articles published by July 5, 2019. Online social factors that are related to obesity behaviors were studied and analyzed.
RESULTS
A total of 1,608 studies were identified from the selected databases. Of these, 50 studies met eligibility criteria. Ten types of online social factors were identified, and a social-ecological model was adopted to explain their potential impact on an individual from varying levels of online social structure to social media users’ connection to the real world.
CONCLUSIONS
We found four levels of interaction found on social media. Gender is the only factor found at the individual level and it affects user’s online obesity-related behaviors. Social support is the predominant identified factor, which benefits users in their weight loss journey on the interpersonal level. Some factors, such as stigma, are also found to be associated with a healthy online social environment. Understanding the effectiveness of these factors is essential to help users create and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
CLINICALTRIAL