Trending health topics come and go among patients depending on fads, the season, the state of the world and beyond. Yet with over a decade of knowledge across Health Union’s growing portfolio of condition-specific online health communities, it’s clear that nutrition is a constant theme throughout social health – the dynamic, real-time actions people take to find meaningful connections and share information throughout the health journey. 

In a 2021 survey of 2,371 people living with chronic conditions, Health Union found that 95% are using online social resources for health reasons. When asked what health-related topics have been of interest over the past six months, 61% of respondents noted daily living and lifestyle tips online, and nearly half are interested in complementary and alternative therapies (e.g., diet, exercise, vitamins). 

Some conditions have an obvious connection to nutrition, like gastrointestinal and/or metabolic syndromes, yet others like rheumatic and autoimmunes have more nuanced ties. Social health creates the space for people living with chronic conditions to have meaningful conversations – at the same time providing insight about their experience with nutrition, illuminating challenges that may otherwise go unnoticed.     

The Challenges of Balancing Nutrition and Condition Management 

While it’s known that nutrition can support positive outcomes for certain individuals and conditions, a few common challenges have surfaced in social health conversations throughout Health Union’s communities: 

• Implementing a new nutrition regimen can be difficult, on top of the already cumbersome responsibility of condition management. Wunmi Bakare, Sickle-Cell.com patient leader, shares the impact of eating habits on her treatment journey. 
• While following specific nutrition plans can decrease symptoms, unwanted effects like stress or disordered eating may stem from a strict diet. AxialSpondyloarthritis.net patient leader Jamie Boder breaks down her nutrition paradox. 
• Healthy, nutrient-dense foods are often more expensive, which creates barriers to access. “Eating healthy on a budget takes work,” according to Type2Diabetes.com patient leader Kelly Kunik. 

Nutrition-Related Opportunities for Pharma and Healthcare 

Patients are seeking and engaging with nutrition-related content through social health. In the case of Health Union’s H-I-V.net community, engagement tends to be more passive compared to other communities. Yet recipe posts in particular on the community’s social media accounts receive high engagement, creating opportunities for connection and conversation. 

Recognizing and treating the whole person can ultimately impact compliance. In a conversation with Health Union, PlaquePsoriasis.com patient leader Reena Ruparelia shared how she feels strongly about holistic health, and would like to see pharma encourage a blend of medication and lifestyle changes, which could help to reinforce that the industry is focusing on the whole person. 

While developing nutrition resources may not be a high priority for pharma, it’s important to recognize that nutrition is a critical component of disease education and a common topic of conversation among people living with chronic conditions. Understanding the nuances and complexities of social health conversations can help pharma best meet the needs of patients in the moments that matter most. 

Learn how Health Union can help you expertly navigate the expansive world of social health – from scalable online health communities and social extensions to comprehensive quantitative condition-specific data and more.