Face-to-Face and Online Networks: College Students’ Experiences in a Weight-Loss Trial

Abstract

This study aimed to understand how college students participating in a 2-year randomized controlled trial (Project SMART: Social and Mobile Approach to Reduce Weight; N = 404) engaged their social networks and used social and mobile technologies to try and lose weight. Participants in the present study (n = 20 treatment, n = 18 control) were approached after a measurement visit and administered semi-structured interviews. Interviews were analyzed using principles from grounded theory. Treatment group participants appreciated the timely support provided by the study and the integration of content across multiple technologies. Participants in both groups reported using non-study-designed apps to help them lose weight, and many participants knew one another outside of the study. Individuals talked about weight-loss goals with their friends face to face and felt accountable to follow through with their intentions. Although seeing others’ success online motivated many, there was a range of perceived acceptability in talking about personal health-related information on social media. The findings from this qualitative study can inform intervention trials using social and mobile technologies to promote weight loss. For example, weight-loss trials should measure participants’ use of direct-to-consumer technologies and interconnectivity so that treatment effects can be isolated and cross-contamination accounted for.

Acknowledgments

We thank all of the investigators and staff involved in Early Adult Reduction of weight through LifestYle intervention trials. We also thank the staff and participants of Project SMART (Social and Mobile Approach to Reduce Weight) for their important contributions.

Funding

This study was supported by a cooperative agreement with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (U01 HL096715).

Supplemental Material

A supplemental online appendix is available on the publisher’s website at http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2016.1250847.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by a cooperative agreement with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (U01 HL096715).