If you’ve made friends with someone lately, or shared a personal triumph with your followers, you’re in good company. Some 58 million Americans use social media, and not just to post their latest awkward family photos.
A growing number of social media users are advertising efforts to lose weight, get fitter, or less stressed. These lifestyle changers have high hopes that online friends will hold them accountable, inspire and encourage them, increasing their odds for success. But that is not all.
Social networks appeal to the human need to feel connected and have fun. Think of it as the modern version of the traditional weight loss support group, for example. No one wants to face weight loss challenges alone; we want to share our experiences, good and bad, and learn from each other. We crave that sense of camaraderie and fun that comes from working together toward a common goal. And perhaps most of all, we want someone to notice when we lose a few pounds.
The advent of smartphones and a dazzling array of wellness apps means we carry support groups in our pockets…connecting whenever and wherever we want. With the touch of a button, we can post our latest blood pressure, share pounds lost or gained, or give someone else a virtual five for meditating 3 days in a row.
So what does this mean for the health promotion professional? If you’re not already immersed in the intersection of behavior change and social media, it’s time to dive in. Because whether or not your wellness program includes a social networking feature, your participants are already there. They’re sharing workout stats on MyFitnessPal and FitBit™, inspiring their weight-loss buddies on LoseIt! and participating in specific forums on chronic diseases. They get immediate feedback on wellness achievements, encouragement when they slip, and lots of congratulations.
Social networks for health and wellness are growing rapidly. By comparison, your wellness program will seem increasingly out of place and boring if it’s missing. Make this the year you catch up on social media. Try some wellness apps and see what a difference it makes to know you have friends tuned in to your progress. And include social media in your next wellness campaign.
“Wall” forums are a good way to start. They are included in many of Health Enhancement Systems’ most popular products, such as Hike, 10,000 a dayand All In. Helping people connect along the path to better health makes behavior change more acceptable, fun, and likely to stick. To engage more potential participants, meet them where they already are: in the world of social media.