scholarly journals Monitoring Peer-to-Peer, Social Media Communication by Military Personnel About Dietary Supplements Used for Weight Loss and Sports Performance: A Pilot Content Analysis of 11 Years of Posts on the Reddit Platform (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kendall J. Sharp ◽  
Julia A. Vitagliano ◽  
Elissa R. Weitzman ◽  
Susan Fitzgerald ◽  
Suzanne E. Dahlberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Dietary Supplements ◽  
Military Personnel ◽  
The United States ◽  
Sport Performance ◽  
Peer To Peer ◽  
Peer Communication ◽  
Supplement Use

BACKGROUND Dietary supplement use is prevalent among military personnel in the United States with over 60% reporting current use. Two subtypes of dietary supplements, weight loss and sport performance (WLSP) supplements, are commonly used by military personnel, who must comply with rigorous training schedules and weight restrictions for service and may misperceive these products as safe and effective adjuncts to their training regimens. WLSP supplements are associated with serious negative effects such as dehydration, stroke, and death. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) maintains a list of prohibited supplements for military personnel and has created the Operation Supplement Safety (OPSS) program and website (www.opss.org) to help educate military personnel. There is currently no routine, systematic surveillance of WLSP supplement use by military personnel. As such, data on peer-to-peer communication among military personnel on social media may offer insights into this group’s supplement use and attendant perceptions and norms. OBJECTIVE To better understand peer-to-peer communication about WLSP supplements among military personnel, we conducted a pilot study utilizing the social media website Reddit. METHODS A total of 64 relevant posts and 243 comments in response to the posts from 2009-2019 were collected from six military personnel affinity groups on Reddit, referred to as “subreddits.” The posts were coded by two independent reviewers using an inductive coding protocol to abstract year of posting (2009-2019), subreddit, and content consistent with the following themes: resources about supplement safety and regulation, discernability of supplement use through drug testing, harmful side effects, brand names or identifiers, and reasons for supplement use. RESULTS Analyses were conducted to determine the interrater reliability (kappa coefficients) of the coding of the collected posts and frequencies of keywords abstracted from the collected posts. Using qualitative analysis software, six themes for the collected posts and comments were identified. The results suggest that Reddit users in military subreddits engage in peer-to-peer communication about WLSP supplements through asking for advice. Sixty (93.8%) of the 64 posts were posting questions to the subreddit, while 4 (6.2%) posts included general information. A primary concern posted by users relates to which supplements military personnel can use without leading to a positive drug test. Reddit users routinely shared misinformation about the safety and legality of these supplements, Supplements to improve workout performance (pre-workout) were the most frequently mentioned reason for using WLSP supplements. The OPSS website was mentioned as a resource in 23 separate comments (9.5% of all comments). CONCLUSIONS Our pilot study suggests that Reddit is a social media forum where military personnel seek out peer-to-peer advice about WLSP supplements and share misinformation about the safety and effectiveness of these products on physical performance, weight loss, and muscle building. Future directions for monitoring WLSP supplement use in military personnel are discussed.

scholarly journals Dietary Supplementation for Para-Athletes: A Systematic Review

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 2016
Author(s):  
Keely A. Shaw ◽  
Gordon A. Zello ◽  
Brian Bandy ◽  
Jongbum Ko ◽  
Leandy Bertrand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Dietary Supplements ◽  
Sports Medicine ◽  
Spinal Cord Injuries ◽  
Sport Performance ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Supplement Use ◽  
Sport Supplements ◽  
Cord Injury

The use of dietary supplements is high among athletes and non-athletes alike, as well as able-bodied individuals and those with impairments. However, evidence is lacking in the use of dietary supplements for sport performance in a para-athlete population (e.g., those training for the Paralympics or similar competition). Our objective was to examine the literature regarding evidence for various sport supplements in a para-athlete population. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, SPORTDiscus, MedLine, and Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Source. Fifteen studies met our inclusion criteria and were included in our review. Seven varieties of supplements were investigated in the studies reviewed, including caffeine, creatine, buffering agents, fish oil, leucine, and vitamin D. The evidence for each of these supplements remains inconclusive, with varying results between studies. Limitations of research in this area include the heterogeneity of the subjects within the population regarding functionality and impairment. Very few studies included individuals with impairments other than spinal cord injury. Overall, more research is needed to strengthen the evidence for or against supplement use in para-athletes. Future research is also recommended on performance in para-athlete populations with classifiable impairments other than spinal cord injuries.

Use of Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss in the United States: Results of a National Survey

Obesity ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 790-796 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janine L. Pillitteri ◽  
Saul Shiffman ◽  
Jeffrey M. Rohay ◽  
Andrea M. Harkins ◽  
Steven L. Burton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Dietary Supplements ◽  
National Survey ◽  
The United States

scholarly journals Social Media Use Among Young Adults With Connective Tissue Disorders: Cross-Sectional Pilot Study (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin F Kelleher ◽  
Philip F Giampietro ◽  
Megan A Moreno
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Young People ◽  
Connective Tissue ◽  
Similar Condition ◽  
Media Use ◽  
The United States ◽  
Connective Tissue Disorders ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Use Of Social Media

BACKGROUND Young people with genetic conditions often face challenges coping with their health condition. It can be difficult for them to meet someone with a similar condition, which is important for reinforcement of chronic illness management recommendations. Social media is used by 97% of young people in the United States and may provide those with these disorders a space for emotional expression and support. However, there is a scarcity of literature related to the use of social media among adolescents with genetic conditions as an indicator of their perception regarding their own condition. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this pilot study was to obtain preliminary data to assess and understand social media use by young people with connective tissue disorders and determine whether they use social media to connect with patients with similar conditions or whether they would be interested in doing so. METHODS We undertook a pilot study of selected connective tissue disorders occurring in young people between the ages of 11 and 25 years, including Marfan syndrome; Ehlers-Danlos syndrome subtypes classical, classical-like, cardiac-valvular, and vascular; Beals congenital contractual arachnodactyly; and Alport hereditary nephritis. The study took place within one pediatric clinical system. Patients were identified through electronic medical record search and International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, coding at a Midwest university–based clinical system. Study subjects completed a short survey describing their experiences with their connective tissue disorders, their means of self-expression, their existing network of persons to communicate with, and their use of social media. Data analysis included nominal and bivariate regressions to compare social media use in relation to age. RESULTS Our 31 participants (42% response rate) were 55% female (17/31) and their average age was 18 years (SD 5). All participants used social media and there were no statistically significant differences between social media use and age. The majority of participants (25/30, 83%) reported that they never used social media to discuss their condition (<i>P</i>=.09), and only 17% (5/30) knew someone online with a similar condition (<i>P</i>=.50). Most participants (19/30, 63%) said they would communicate with someone with a similar disorder (<i>P</i>=.64). CONCLUSIONS We found that young individuals with connective tissue disorders use at least one type of social media. A majority did not use social media to discuss their condition or know someone online with a similar condition. However, many persons were interested in finding others similarly affected. Social media could serve as a platform for young people with connective tissue disorders to connect. Peer support is important in disease management and adolescent development. Future studies should aim at understanding social media use among young people with connective tissue disorders and helping them connect with other people who have similar conditions.

Marked Transaminase Elevations and Worsening Glycemic Control Associated With Counterfeit Polyherbal Use in a Patient With Diabetes

2009 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 600-605 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nickole N. Henyan ◽  
Daniel M. Riche ◽  
James J. Pitcock ◽  
Dayna C. Strickland
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
The United States ◽  
Morbidly Obese ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Herbal Supplement ◽  
Herbal Supplements ◽  
Herbal Products ◽  
Supplement Use ◽  
Patient Reported

Dietary and herbal supplements, a US$20.3 billion entity, are used by more than half of the adult population in the United States. Since weight loss is beneficial in obese patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease, many obese Americans are ingesting herbal weight loss supplements under the assumption that they are inherently safe. We report the case of a 55-year-old morbidly obese Caucasian female with diabetes, who started multiple polyherbal supplements. Six months after starting several herbal products, the patient’s A1C increased from 7.8% to 9.4% and the AST/ALT were markedly elevated. After discontinuation, transaminases normalized in 28 days. On follow-up visit, the patient reported compliance with prescribed medications and denied use of herbal products. The patient’s A1C approached target goal. The potential for counterfeit herbal supplement production exists. Our patient’s products were analyzed for purity, and 0% Hoodia gordonii was found. A misconception of herbal products is that they are safe because they are natural. Unfortunately, many natural products can act in the same capacity as drugs, educing both benefit and harm. Health care providers, particularly pharmacists, should be aware of counterfeit herbal supplements and closely monitor for dangers of herbal supplement use.

scholarly journals Why Keep Arguing? Predicting Engagement in Political Conversations Online

SAGE Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 215824401982885 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Shugars ◽  
Nicholas Beauchamp
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
User Participation ◽  
Peer To Peer ◽  
Emotional Content ◽  
Political Information ◽  
User Engagement ◽  
Peer Communication ◽  
Political Differences

Individuals acquire increasingly more of their political information from social media, and ever more of that online time is spent in interpersonal, peer-to-peer communication and conversation. Yet, many of these conversations can be either acrimoniously unpleasant or pleasantly uninformative. Why do we seek out and engage in these interactions? Who do people choose to argue with, and what brings them back to repeated exchanges? In short, why do people bother arguing online? We develop a model of argument engagement using a new dataset of Twitter conversations about President Trump. The model incorporates numerous user, tweet, and thread-level features to predict user participation in conversations with over 98% accuracy. We find that users are likely to argue over wide ideological divides, and are increasingly likely to engage with those who are different from themselves. In addition, we find that the emotional content of a tweet has important implications for user engagement, with negative and unpleasant tweets more likely to spark sustained participation. Although often negative, these extended discussions can bridge political differences and reduce information bubbles. This suggests a public appetite for engaging in prolonged political discussions that are more than just partisan potshots or trolling, and our results suggest a variety of strategies for extending and enriching these interactions.

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