Facebook “Likes” could help prevent obesity
A study submitted on November 24, 2012 has just been accepted and published on April 24, 2013 on the PlosOne website. A reference site for “raw” medical information in the sense that published studies are often intended for professional use.
We give you a clear summary here. The study shows that social networks, like Facebook, can help us determine which areas of the world are more likely to contain overweight and/or obese people – simply by analyzing the “Passive” actions of Internet users, such as “Likes” for example.
Why this study?
Most studies on obesity do not have consistent data on “environmental factors”. However, with social networks, and by simply using “passive” data (i.e. the “Likes” of Facebook, for example), it is possible to constitute numerous samples, to relate “environmental factor” and “obesity”.
Goal of the study
The objective of the study is to explore the relationship between the online social environment via web-based social networks and the prevalence of obesity in the population.
How was the study
A cross-sectional study and cross-validation were carried out:
- On the one hand it has been predicted, based on the interests of users on the online social network Facebook, a probable prevalence of obesity across the United States (USA) (as well as, more specifically, in New York City ).
- And on the other hand these results have been put in relation with the data of certain obesity control centers in the United States. systems.
The predictions are different depending on whether the users have interests for physical activities (such as tennis for example) or whether the users have interests for sedentary activities (such as television for example).
The results
Long story short, here’s an image from the study.
On the left, you have the data from the centers on obesity. On the right, you have the predictions made according to the interests of users on Facebook.
One example among others: the city with the most “likes” linked to physical activities is Coeur d’Alene. However, in this city, obesity is much less frequent than in other cities which have fewer “likes” on everything related to physical activity. Kansas City, for example, comes last in terms of “likes” on topics with sports connotations: compared to Coeur d’Alene, obesity is more common there (the rate is 12% higher) .
Clearly, it is therefore possible to associate a prevalence of obesity with certain interests. Of course, this may seem obvious, but the study goes further: the fact that it is online social data, easily exploitable, can help health organizations. This is to detect risky behavior, and over time, to refine this kind of study.
Conclusions
Interests on Facebook that are related to physical activities can characterize populations that are less prone to obesity; while by identifying sedentary interests, it is possible to associate these “Likes” with a prevalence of obesity. Further research is needed to understand how the online social environment relates to health outcomes and how it can be used to identify or target interventions.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.