Should You Try Facebooks New Weight-Loss Feature?

Facebook already allows us to get pretty intimate glimpses into our friends' lives through a constant stream of photos and status sharing. But now the social media site is going a step further. As part of its new set of "health and wellness" milestones you can add to your timeline (events like breaking your leg or quitting smoking), you can post how many pounds you've dropped, when you hit certain weight-loss goals, what worked for you, and before-and-after photos.  

Smart idea? Keri Gans, M.S., R.D., author of The Small Change Diet says this new feature might help certain people who find it useful to have a visible tracking tool for their weight loss; seeing numbers and photos can help some dieters fully realize how far they've come—and keep them from slipping back into old habits. "I think for a lot of people, social media helps them stay accountable," says Gans. "If they put it out there, they think, 'Now I have to keep it off.'" 

MORE: 4 Ways Your Social Network Can Help You Slim Down 

Gans says she likes that the feature comes with privacy settings so you can choose who has access to your weight-loss information. If you like the idea of being held accountable—but aren't sure you want all of that info on your Facebook account (even with the privacy settings), Gans suggests joining or starting a weight-loss group, which can also be helpful for tracking progress and staying motivated.

That said, be wary of using Facebook (or any tracking method for that matter) to obsessively monitor and post about your weight. Gans says this new feature may trigger unhealthy behaviors in certain people, especially those who have a history of eating disorders. "Whenever you're talking about weight loss at all, there are concerns," she says. "You always have to take comments you get with a grain of salt. Friends who might comment on your weight loss or photos are not professionals, so they cannot say if you've gotten too thin or if you're going about it in a healthy way." 

In fact, it's best to use the tool primarily for your own motivation—not as a way to seek approval from others. "If you get a negative remark or don't get any comments, you might get depressed about your efforts," says Gans. So when it comes to comments, it's best not to dwell on reactions—positive or negative. If you're healthy and feeling good about your weight, that's what really matters.

MORE: 6 Ways to Lose Weight That Don't Involve Counting Calories 

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