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Losing It Online: Characterizing Participation in an Online Weight Loss Community

Published: 09 November 2014 Publication History

Abstract

Many people struggle with their weight and are turning to online communities for social and informational support. The aim of this study is to understand the issues commonly discussed in online weight loss communities. Through observation and content analysis of threads in one specific weight loss community, we identified 17 distinct categories discussed by the participants. We detail four categories specifically: Personal Experience, Consumption Choices, Dieting Strategy, and Exercise. Our analysis describes some key user roles and states that often relate to different phases of a person's weight loss journey. We identify a set of transient states, which are not proper roles but are significant in an online community where individuals are attempting to change their own behaviors. We close with design suggestions for encouraging and maintaining participant engagement in an online health community

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    cover image ACM Conferences
    GROUP '14: Proceedings of the 2014 ACM International Conference on Supporting Group Work
    November 2014
    340 pages
    ISBN:9781450330435
    DOI:10.1145/2660398
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    Published: 09 November 2014

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    Author Tags

    1. content analysis
    2. online community
    3. weight loss

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    GROUP '14
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    GROUP '14: 2014 ACM Conference on Supporting Groupwork
    November 9 - 12, 2014
    Florida, Sanibel Island, USA

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    GROUP '14 Paper Acceptance Rate 27 of 90 submissions, 30%;
    Overall Acceptance Rate 125 of 405 submissions, 31%

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    • (2021)A Model of Socially Sustained Self-Tracking for Food and DietProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/34795955:CSCW2(1-32)Online publication date: 18-Oct-2021
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