Social Media MotiWEIGH-tion : Social Media as a powerful tool for fitness

In a time of convergence we see not only virtual platforms coming together and growing as trends but also reality and virtuality converging.

The trend is Fitness and fitness is now being promoted as a "must-have'' lifestyle. With the increased use of Social Media it has done more good than harm in its context with promoting fitness and health. Although there are opinions of social media being the cause of insecurity of body type, it is proving to do be more of a boon than a bane in the health and fitness industry.

The firs thing social media has helped in weight reduction is that more people are concerned with clicking picture of their food and uploading it to Instagram rather that eating them.

Researchers at Brown University in the US found dieters who received weekly advice from therapists online lost three times as much weight in six months as those who didn't receive advice. And a report in the Journal Of The American Medical Association on the largest weight-loss maintenance study to date found a combination of personal contact and web-based support is crucial for long-term weight management.

Social Media allows an individual access to information about weight loss, its helps one keep an account or record of it and make the results visible to friends and family, and helps as a ego boost.

Constant motivation and being able to share results and 'gains' has been a real confidence booster.

Other than Facebook as a social networking website that allows one to share moments and be a part of fitness and health groups there are many social media websites and apps on-the-go that are solely focused on fitness motivation. Such as ;

1. FITOCRACY

2. TRAINEO

3. FITTOGETHER

4. MyFitnessPal

5. Pacer

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