上網交友能減肥你逗我呢（雙語）

　　摘要:英國皇家協會界面雜志上發表了一篇西北大學的新研究，研究發現，與較少參加網絡社區的人相比，活躍在網絡社區的人減重比例更大。這是為什么呢？

　　在網絡社交時代，肯定有些東西經常被分享。但是，當提到減肥的時候，分享可能是關鍵。

　　In the age of the social network, there's certainly such a thing as sharing too much. But when it comes to losing weight, sharing could be key.

　　A new Northwestern University study published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface found that those who actively engage in such online communities lost a higher percentage of their body weight compared to users who participated sparingly.

　　英國皇家協會界面雜志上發表了一篇西北大學的新研究，研究發現，與較少參加網絡社區的人相比，活躍在網絡社區的人減重比例更大。

　　Scientists analyzed data from people paying a membership fee on CalorieKing.com, which grants them access to weight-loss tools (like a food journal) and an online forum. While the identity of each user remained anonymous, the researchers had access to age, gender, height, initial weight and time-stamped activities. They could also monitor members' recorded weigh-ins, friend requests and community engagement, though they could not read any of the actual conversations between users.

　　科學家分析了來自CalorieKing.com網站上支付會員費的人們的數據，會員費賦予他們訪問減肥工具(例如食品雜志)和網絡論壇的權利。雖然每個用戶的身份都保持匿名，但是研究人員可以獲得年齡、性別、身高、最初體重和可實時追蹤的活動。雖然他們不能夠讀取用戶間的實際談話內容，但是他們能夠監測會員的體重記錄，好友請求和社區參與。

　　The researchers found that the users who recorded their weight and engaged with other members were more likely to achieve their goals of shedding pounds. The most active users lost more than 8 percent of their body weight in a six month period. The least active users, those with the fewest online friends and social interactions, lost around 5 percent of their body weight in the same span of time. The researchers theorize that engagement plays a key role in weight loss because it offers an always-accessible network of support.

　　研究人員發現，那些記錄體重、與其它成員互動的用戶完成減輕體重目標的可能性更大。最活躍的用戶在6個月內減輕的重量大于自身重量的8%。最不活躍的、只有很少網絡朋友和社交互動的用戶在同樣的時間內減輕的重量大約只有自身重量的5%。研究人員推論，參與在減肥中起著關鍵性的作用，因為它提供了一個永遠開放的網絡支持.

　　They're also looking ahead: The positive results point to plausible uses for social networks in other areas of health. Online communities might be successful alternatives for ailments like depression and alcoholism, for which in-person meetings are often suggested. "Modern life is so complex and stressful, to go somewhere for a meeting is often not practical," Luís A. Nunes Amaral, senior author of the study, said in a statement. "It is hopeful that this alternative approach, of going online for support, could work."

　　他們同樣也預測未來：積極的結果表明在健康的其它領域也可以合理使用社交網絡。網絡社區可能是一些疾病的成功的替代方案，例如抑郁癥和酗酒，對于這些人通常建議私下見面。這個研究的第一作者路易斯·A·努內斯· 阿爾拉瑪在一份聲明中說，“現代生活如此復雜、充滿壓力，去別的地方見面通常不太實際。這個替代方案是有希望的，在網絡上尋求幫助可能會有用。”