Detrimental Effects of Online Pro-Eating Disorder Communities on Weight Loss and Desired Weight: Longitudinal Observational Study.
Reddit
body weight
eating disorders
linear growth models
pro-ED
pro-eating disorder communities
social media
weight loss
Journal
Journal of medical Internet research
ISSN: 1438-8871
Titre abrégé: J Med Internet Res
Pays: Canada
ID NLM: 100959882
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
06 10 2021
06 10 2021
Historique:
received:
14
01
2021
accepted:
14
06
2021
revised:
31
03
2021
entrez:
6
10
2021
pubmed:
7
10
2021
medline:
29
10
2021
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Online pro-eating disorder (pro-ED) communities are considered harmful because of their detrimental effects on their users' body dissatisfaction, dieting, and help seeking. To date, it is unknown to which extent participation in pro-ED communities affects users' body weight and desired weight loss. This study aims to investigate the changes in the current and desired body weight of users of a pro-ED community (r/proed) on the social media website Reddit over time. Data on 1170 users and the unsolicited weight information they shared with the pro-ED community were collected over a period of 15 months. Linear growth models were used to model changes in the users' current and desired BMI over time. Both current and desired BMI decreased over time, with a predicted rate of 0.087 and 0.015 BMI points per week, respectively. Weight loss was moderated by the users' activity level in the community, with more active users losing more weight. Users with a higher baseline BMI experienced greater weight loss, but even users with a very low baseline weight (BMI <17 kg/m This is the first study to demonstrate the detrimental effects of pro-ED communities in a longitudinal study based on a large data set of user-generated online data. The results extend the literature detailing the harmful effects of online pro-ED communities by showing users' weight loss, decreases in desired weight, and that higher activity levels lead to greater weight loss. Users could be driven to pursue very low, unrealistic weight loss goals by images of very thin bodies presented in these communities.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Online pro-eating disorder (pro-ED) communities are considered harmful because of their detrimental effects on their users' body dissatisfaction, dieting, and help seeking. To date, it is unknown to which extent participation in pro-ED communities affects users' body weight and desired weight loss.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to investigate the changes in the current and desired body weight of users of a pro-ED community (r/proed) on the social media website Reddit over time.
METHODS
Data on 1170 users and the unsolicited weight information they shared with the pro-ED community were collected over a period of 15 months. Linear growth models were used to model changes in the users' current and desired BMI over time.
RESULTS
Both current and desired BMI decreased over time, with a predicted rate of 0.087 and 0.015 BMI points per week, respectively. Weight loss was moderated by the users' activity level in the community, with more active users losing more weight. Users with a higher baseline BMI experienced greater weight loss, but even users with a very low baseline weight (BMI <17 kg/m
CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study to demonstrate the detrimental effects of pro-ED communities in a longitudinal study based on a large data set of user-generated online data. The results extend the literature detailing the harmful effects of online pro-ED communities by showing users' weight loss, decreases in desired weight, and that higher activity levels lead to greater weight loss. Users could be driven to pursue very low, unrealistic weight loss goals by images of very thin bodies presented in these communities.
Identifiants
pubmed: 34612830
pii: v23i10e27153
doi: 10.2196/27153
pmc: PMC8529462
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Observational Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
e27153Informations de copyright
©Johannes Feldhege, Markus Moessner, Stephanie Bauer. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org), 06.10.2021.
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