Impact of #PCOSweightloss: A global X hashtag analysis study of weight loss narratives in the PCOS community

Abstract

Introduction Social media plays a significant role in fostering communities around health and wellness. The hashtag #PCOSweightloss has become a pivotal forum on the platform X, where individuals exchange experiences, share information, and motivate each other concerning weight loss strategies connected with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Objective This study aims to analyze the trends of #PCOSweightloss on X to gain insights into the social media metrics, including overall hashtag reach, key themes, and potential influence on management practices of PCOS. Methods Fedica research analytics tool ( https://fedica.com ) was utilized to automatically evaluate quantitatively the posts on the platform X containing #PCOSweightloss from July 1st, 2017 to July 1st, 2023. Results During the defined period, 1570 users shared 12,200 posts on X, gathering 2,967,001 views. The highest number of posts originated from the United States (38.6%), followed by India (30.6%) and the United Kingdom (10.6%). Top co-occurring hashtags associated with #PCOSweightloss included #PCOS, #healthyfood, #pcosmood and #diabetes. Physicians were key contributors to the discourse, contributing to 30% of the ten most engaging posts and 20% of the top ten influencers. Sentiment analysis revealed a predominant neutral sentiment (98%), while 1% each revealed positive and negative sentiments. Conclusion Our study affirms the substantial presence of #PCOSweightloss in the PCOS discourse on X. The involvement of physicians is particularly noteworthy, as it emphasizes the importance of expert-guided discussions in the online health discourse. On the background of geographical variances and the challenge of engaging a wider audience due to the limited follower counts of many participants, there is a clear opportunity for further community engagement and outreach. The prevailing neutral tone showcases a community engaged primarily in an informational exchange, setting the stage for more profound discussions of novel PCOS weight loss strategies.