Using Facebook to Deliver a Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention for Low-Income Postpartum Women
Women who live below poverty, especially women from racial and ethnic minority groups, face higher rates of obesity. Gaining excess weight during pregnancy and then retaining this weight post-partum can place these women at risk for obesity. Weight loss studies with postpartum women have had limited impact. These studies have struggled with low attendance rates due to childcare, transportation, and scheduling needs. This study pilot-tested a Facebook-delivered post-partum weight loss intervention for diverse low-income mothers.The intervention was acceptable to participants and could be feasibly delivered to diverse, low-income women.

 Using Twitter to Deliver Behavioral Weight-Loss Interventions: A Pilot Series
Face-to-face interventions to help people lose weight can be very expensive and time-consuming for both the counselor and the participant. Social media platforms, such as Twitter, could be an alternate way for counselors to communicate with patients and for patients to communicate and support each other. From the perspective of a participant, social media could provide a convenient way to participate in a group, as the participant chooses where and when to log in to the group. This study found that using a private Twitter group to deliver a behavioral weight-loss intervention is feasible and acceptable among adults who were not depressed and who had experience with social media. Participants reported feeling more weight loss support from the Twitter group than from their family and friends.