There is an "urgent need" to leverage the power of social media to educate and positively influence young people with scientific information about obesity, according to research presented by Antonella Franceschelli, MD, PhD, of UniCamillus International Medical University in Rome, Italy, at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) 2024 in Venice. Franceschelli's research highlighted that 108 videos posted on TikTok between 2021 and 2024 garnered a total of 4,631 views, with each video averaging 42,495 views. The most popular video, discussing the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist semaglutide, was viewed nearly a million times.
"The escalating obesity epidemic, especially among young people, poses a global challenge that demands innovative strategies," Franceschelli emphasized. "With over 90% of teenagers active on at least one social media platform, their online presence continues…
