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The evidence-based program will serve as a counter to much of the mixed messaging people receive about fad diets and exercise regimes, which tend to be extreme, restrictive, and unsustainable.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the weight loss space, there are a lot of fads,\u201d Pagoto says. \u201cAnd I think the general public is getting a lot more aware of the fact that they are getting bombarded with fad solutions, and they are more interested in things that are evidence-based.\u201d<\/p>\n
The program Pagoto and her team have devised focuses on long-term healthy lifestyle changes, aligned with the American Heart Association\u2019s diet recommendations and national physical activity guidelines, with the goal of preventing chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.<\/p>\n
This initiative will implement the weight loss intervention program Pagoto\u2019s lab has developed over the years as an entirely virtual, asynchronous program using private Facebook groups.<\/p>\n
\u201cInstead of developing our own platform, we use Facebook groups because the majority of Americans, particularly those who are interested in weight loss programs, are Facebook users already,\u201d Pagoto says. \u201cPrivate Facebook groups provide a lot of features that allow us to bring these programs to life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Using an online platform expands the program\u2019s reach as more people can be in a Facebook group than would fit in a physical room.<\/p>\n
This approach also addresses a significant barrier other weight loss programs present, which require people have time to attend meetings at specific times each week.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we offer that\u2019s a little bit different is asynchronous, 24-7 access to a community and a professional weight loss counselor who guides people through the program,\u201d Pagoto says.<\/p>\n
The group is moderated by a professional weight loss counselor. Twice a day, the moderator will post conversation starters encouraging members to engage in behavioral weight loss strategies like goal-setting and self-monitoring.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy making every post a conversation starter, we\u2019re able to engage people in the content as opposed to just spitting facts at them,\u201d Pagoto says. \u201cMost people know what foods are healthy and that they should exercise, the challenge is how to implement that knowledge. Implementation requires problem solving, behavioral strategies, and peer support.\u201d<\/p>\n
The name of the program, Health is Social, emphasizes not only that it utilizes a social media platform but that, built into this choice, participants gain access to a support group of peers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of crowd sourcing of information and experiences that facilitates behavior change in people,\u201d Pagoto says.<\/p>\n
Each week, participants will receive one diet and one exercise goal. For example, increasing fiber intake, decreasing sugary beverage intake, and increasing physical activity.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe use a \u2018building blocks\u2019 approach that gradually helps people shape their diet to be in line with the American Heart Association and gradually create a physically active lifestyle. If you just throw a complicated diet at people where they have to change 20 things at once, or say you need to be getting 150 to 300 minutes of exercise a week right now, that\u2019s too much,\u201d Pagoto says.<\/p>\n
Participants will pay a $20 monthly subscription fee, which they can cancel at any time. Participants can join from anywhere in the country so long as they have a Facebook account.<\/p>\n
The program can work with commercial diet programs that participants may already be following and dietary restrictions, like veganism or vegetarianism. And, it is a great resource for people who are on the new GLP-1 weight loss medications and want support as they transition off of those medications.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really exciting to see it come to life and be offered to the public, outside the research context,\u201d Pagoto says.<\/p>\n
Pagoto and her team will be tracking data from the group, including participants\u2019 comments and interactions with the posts. This will allow the team to better understand what kinds of posts are more engaging in order to improve the program.<\/p>\n
\u201c[We] may be able to build up toward having enough numbers participating in the program, beyond what we would ever get in a research study that will allow us to be able to answer questions we couldn\u2019t cover in a single research study with just 100 or 200 people,\u201d Pagoto says. \u201cThe best research insights come from the experiences of real people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anyone interested in joining the program can sign up for the waitlist on the Health is Social website.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n This work relates to CAHNR\u2019s Strategic Vision area focused on\u00a0<\/em>Enhancing Health and Well-Being Locally, Nationally, and Globally.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n