I'm searching for solutions: why are obese individuals turning to the Internet for help and support with 'being fat'? Lewis, Sophie, Thomas, Samantha L., Blood, R. Warwick, Castle, David, Hyde, Jim and Komesaroff, Paul A. 2011, I'm searching for solutions: why are obese individuals turning to the Internet for help and support with 'being fat'?, Health expectations, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 339-350, doi: 10.1111/j.1369-7625.2010.00644.x. Attached Files Name Description MIMEType Size Downloads Title I'm searching for solutions: why are obese individuals turning to the Internet for help and support with 'being fat'? Author(s) Lewis, Sophie Thomas, Samantha L. orcid.org/0000-0003-1427-7775 Blood, R. Warwick Castle, David Hyde, Jim Komesaroff, Paul A. Journal name Health expectations Volume number 14 Issue number 4 Start page 339 End page 350 Total pages 12 Publisher Wiley Place of publication London, Eng. Publication date 2011-12 ISSN 1369-7625 Keyword(s) commercial diets consumer perspectives and experiences information seeking internet obesity qualitative research weight loss Summary INTRODUCTION: This study explores what types of information obese individuals search for on the Internet, their motivations for seeking information and how they apply it in their daily lives. METHOD: In-depth telephone interviews with an Australian community sample of 142 individuals with a BMI ≥ 30 were conducted. Theoretical, purposive and strategic samplings were employed. Data were analysed using a constant comparative method. RESULTS: Of the 142 individuals who participated in the study, 111 (78%) searched for information about weight loss or obesity. Of these, about three quarters searched for weight loss solutions. The higher the individual's weight, the more they appeared to search for weight loss solutions. Participants also searched for information about health risks associated with obesity (n = 28), how to prevent poor health outcomes (n = 30) and for peer support forums with other obese individuals (n = 25). Whilst participants visited a range of websites, including government-sponsored sites, community groups and weight loss companies, they overwhelmingly acted upon the advice given on commercial diet websites. However, safe, non-judgemental spaces such as the Fatosphere (online fat acceptance community) provided much needed solidarity and support. CONCLUSIONS: The Internet provides a convenient source of support and information for obese individuals. However, many turn to the same unsuccessful solutions online (e.g. fad dieting) they turn to in the community. Government and community organisations could draw upon some lessons learned in other consumer-driven online spaces (e.g. the Fatosphere) to provide supportive environments for obese individuals that resonate with their health and social experiences, and address their needs. Language eng DOI 10.1111/j.1369-7625.2010.00644.x Field of Research 111799 Public Health and Health Services not elsewhere classified Socio Economic Objective 920401 Behaviour and Health HERDC Research category C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal Copyright notice ©2010, Blackwell Publishing Persistent URL http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30079462 Document type: Journal Article Collections: Faculty of Health School of Health and Social Development Related Links Link Description Connect to published version Go to link with your DU access privileges     Unless expressly stated otherwise, the copyright for items in DRO is owned by the author, with all rights reserved. Versions Version Filter Type Thu, 12 Nov 2015, 09:54:38 EST Wed, 18 Nov 2015, 09:41:44 EST Thu, 19 Nov 2015, 04:00:13 EST Thu, 19 Nov 2015, 05:10:11 EST Fri, 05 Feb 2016, 09:35:36 EST Fri, 05 Feb 2016, 09:38:18 EST Mon, 15 Feb 2016, 14:00:15 EST Wed, 09 Nov 2016, 11:35:22 EST Filtered Full Citation counts:   Cited 33 times in TR Web of Science Cited 35 times in Scopus Search Google Scholar Access Statistics: 251 Abstract Views, 3 File Downloads  -  Detailed Statistics Created: Wed, 18 Nov 2015, 09:41:44 EST

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