Research Study Recommends SparkPeople

Weight Loss News Flash

-- By Nicole Nichols, Health Educator

These days, it's not uncommon for people to make decisions that affect their health based on information that they find on the Internet. But can you trust the weight loss advice you find on Internet message boards? When it comes to weight loss, a new study published in the American Journal of Medicine (July 2007) says internet users tend to receive accurate answers when they ask questions in high-volume online forums. The study also recommends that health professionals refer their patients to high-volume forums, like SparkPeople.com's Message Boards for weight loss advice.

According to the study's researchers, "weight loss" is one of the most frequently explored topics on the Internet. And while online forums on the topic abound, this is the first study to examine whether or not the information shared on message board posts is actually safe or accurate.

Researchers from the University of Texas Medical School at Houston analyzed over 3,000 posts made in 18 different online weight loss forums, including SparkPeople's Message Boards, for one month. When analyzing all of these posts, the study found:

• Eight percent of the posts (266 total) asked for weight loss advice. These questions received over 650 responses/answers.
• Only about six percent of the responses (43 total posts) contained potentially harmful advice, but 28 percent of those posts were later corrected by other posters.

The study authors report that harmful answers, such as recommending weight loss pills, were more likely to occur on forums with low-activity (less than 1,000 posts per month), whereas accurate and helpful answers to weight loss, diet, and fitness questions were more likely to occur on high-activity forums (more than 1,000 posts per month). SparkPeople's Message Boards forums receive hundreds of thousands of posts per month.

In the study's summary, researchers singled out SparkPeople's Message Boards, advising health professionals to, "refer patients to high-activity forums, such as the 'Diet and Nutrition' and 'Fitness and Exercise' forums on www.SparkPeople.com." In comments to Reuters Health, co-author Dr. Kevin O. Hwang of the University of Texas Medical School at Houston said, "Good weight loss advice can be given not only by trained professionals, but also by peers who participate in these Internet forums."

Action Sparked: You can't always trust the weight loss, nutrition and fitness information you get from other sources. But you can trust the answers you receive on SparkPeople's Message Boards, which are safe and accurate, according to research published in the American Journal of Medicine. These researchers specifically recommend SparkPeople's forums.

We can't guarantee that everything in the forums will be accurate, but we're happy that research proves what we've known for the past several years—that our members give each other great advice. Our experts and staff work hard to ensure that the information shared on our Message Boards is accurate, helpful and above all, positive. You'll get support, encouragement, and quality advice from an active Community of members and Resident Experts. So what's holding you back? Start by Introducing Yourself, or ask a Nutrition, Fitness or Motivation question today!

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• CANDY13ANN "good article, I am again motivated and ready to continue my journey."
• GRAMMAFROMMT "I'm not surprised at these findings. I have learned a lot on SparkPeople. ..."
• TEVIKO "I think it's because there is a difference of opinion on what works and wha..."

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