Facebook and Friends: Developing an Effective Online Social Network for Weight Loss

NCT02656680 | Completed Results DMC

• 2 other identifiers: H17-2151K24HL124366-01A1
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 134
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

In a pilot randomized trial of 160 obese participants, investigators will test the feasibility of a behavioral weight loss program delivered entirely via Facebook. We will recruit in 2 separate waves of 80 participants each. Participants will be randomized to: 1) a condition with study participants only or 2) to a condition they will be able to invite their friends into (wave 1) or one in which the study team keeps recruitment open to allow enrollment through week 8 (wave 2). All participants will receive behavioral counseling via the private Facebook group from the coaches who are present on the network daily. Participants will track their diet and exercise via a free commercial mobile app.

Conditions

Weight Loss

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Engagement

  Number of Facebook "likes" and other reactions, replies, posts, and polls per participant during the 16 week program.

  4 months

• Retention

  The number of participants who complete the follow-up assessment in each condition.

  4 months

• Number of Participants Rating the Intervention 'Acceptable

  Participants will rate acceptability of the online intervention. Acceptability was assessed with a single item during the follow-up survey: "How likely are you to recommend the program to a friend?" (responses on a 5-point Likert scale from not at all likely to very likely). Acceptability was categorized into acceptable, defined as responses of a little bit likely, somewhat likely, likely, and very likely, and unacceptable was defined as response of not at all likely.

  4 months

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Percent Weight Loss

  Baseline to 4 months

• Diet

  4 Months

Study Arms (3)

Continuous Enrollment (Randomized)

EXPERIMENTAL

The Continuous Enrollment is a Facebook-delivered weight loss intervention. Participants in this arm were randomized to this Facebook group and started the intervention together. For this group, the study team continued to enroll participants through week 8.

Behavioral: Continuous Enrollment

Closed Enrollment (Randomized)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Closed Enrollment is a Facebook-delivered weight loss intervention. Participants in this arm were randomized to this Facebook group and started the intervention together. No additional participants were added to this group during the study.

Behavioral: Closed Enrollment

Continuous Enrollment (Non-Randomized)

OTHER

The Continuous Enrollment is a Facebook-delivered weight loss intervention. For this group, the study team continued to enroll participants through week 8. This arm captures only those participants that were added to the group during these 8 weeks. They were enrolled in the study after the original 80 participants were randomized.

Behavioral: Continuous Enrollment

Interventions

Continuous Enrollment BEHAVIORAL

Participants will receive a weight loss intervention delivered in an online context. The online coaches will post daily content, respond to questions, address concerns, and encourage engagement. The weight loss intervention is based on the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), an evidence-based weight loss program focused on lifestyle changes. The goals for the intervention are 175 minutes of moderate physical activity per week and an overall weight loss of 7%. Each participant will get an individualized calorie goal that would facilitate a 1-2 lbs. weight loss weekly. Participants will also be encouraged to use an app such as MyFitnessPal to track daily diet. For this arm, the study team will keep recruitment open for this condition to allow enrollment of new participants through week 8.

Also known as: Open Group

Continuous Enrollment (Non-Randomized); Continuous Enrollment (Randomized)

Closed Enrollment BEHAVIORAL

Participants will receive a weight loss intervention delivered in an online context. The online coaches will post daily content, respond to questions, address concerns, and encourage engagement. The weight loss intervention is based on the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), an evidence-based weight loss program focused on lifestyle changes. The goals for the intervention are 175 minutes of moderate physical activity per week and an overall weight loss of 7%. Each participant will get an individualized calorie goal that would facilitate a 1-2 lbs. weight loss weekly. Participants will also be encouraged to use an app such as MyFitnessPal to track daily diet.

Also known as: Closed Group

Closed Enrollment (Randomized)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Participants must be:
• years of age;
• Have a BMI 27-45 kg/m²;
• Lives in the United States; and
• Have daily internet access;

You may not qualify if:

• Does not post on Facebook at least once per week
• Comments on someone else's post on Facebook less than once per week
• Does not currently use a smartphone;
• Is not familiar with using phone apps;
• Pregnant and/or lactating;
• Meets criteria for severe depression on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) (score of \>20);
• Had bariatric surgery, plans to during the study;
• Has had a weight loss of 5% or greater within previous 3 months;
• Meets criteria for Binge Eating Disorder;
• Condition that precludes lifestyle changes (i.e. a condition that prevents physical activity increase or dietary changes);
• Medications affecting weight;
• Incapable of walking ¼ mile without stopping;
• Type 1 or 2 diabetes;
• Participated in previous weight loss studies under the PI;
• Has concerns about being in a Facebook group with other faculty, staff, or students from the University of Connecticut;

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Connecticut: lead
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University of Connecticut

Storrs, Connecticut, 06269, United States

Location

Related Publications (2)

• Xu R, Divito J, Bannor R, Schroeder M, Pagoto S. Predicting Participant Engagement in a Social Media-Delivered Lifestyle Intervention Using Microlevel Conversational Data: Secondary Analysis of Data From a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Form Res. 2022 Jul 28;6(7):e38068. doi: 10.2196/38068.

  PMID: 35900824 DERIVED

• Pagoto SL, Schroeder MW, Xu R, Waring ME, Groshon L, Goetz JM, Idiong C, Troy H, DiVito J, Bannor R. A Facebook-Delivered Weight Loss Intervention Using Open Enrollment: Randomized Pilot Feasibility Trial. JMIR Form Res. 2022 May 6;6(5):e33663. doi: 10.2196/33663.

  PMID: 35522466 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Weight Loss

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Body Weight Changes; Body Weight; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Dr. Sherry Pagoto
• Organization: University of Connecticut

sherry.pagoto@uconn.edu

8604868979

Study Officials

• Sherry Pagoto, PhD

  University of Connecticut

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: No
• Restrictive Agreement: No

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 7, 2016
• First Posted: January 15, 2016
• Study Start: February 1, 2018
• Primary Completion: February 20, 2020
• Study Completion: March 31, 2020
• Last Updated: March 21, 2024
• Results First Posted: March 16, 2021

Record last verified: 2024-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)