Aiming to lose weight? Publicise your goals on social media!

The study from the University of California, Irvine examines the role of virtual communities and public commitment in setting and reaching weight loss goals.

‘Our research finds that individuals are more likely to realize success with personal goals when they make a public commitment to attaining them,’ said Tonya Williams Bradford, study co-author.

‘By sharing success and setbacks in virtual support communities on social media, we found people are achieving better results. This works especially well with goals like weight loss, where before and after images can be shared online with other community members.’

Along with Bradford, the study was co-authored by Sonya Grier from American University and Geraldine R. Henderson from Loyola University Chicago, and is published in the Journal of Interactive Marketing.

The research follows two weight loss groups, surgical and non-surgical, over a four-year period.

‘Through our research we found public commitment, which is a declaration of a position, increases the likelihood of compliance to a course of action and is a key part of a successful weight loss plan,’ Bradford said.