Quality of Metabolic Bariatric Surgery Information on Social Media: A Cross-Sectional Study of TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook

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Abstract
Background: Social media is an important source of health information for patients considering metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS), but the quality of this information remains unclear. We assessed the quality of MBS-related videos on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated English-language videos identified between October and December 2025 using four MBS-related hashtags. Two MBS-experienced reviewers independently assessed video quality using the validated DISCERN and Principles for Health-related Information on Social Media (PRHISM) instruments. Video characteristics, creator type, and engagement metrics were recorded and compared across platforms and creator groups. Results: Of 116 included videos, 55 were from TikTok, 28 from Instagram and 33 from Facebook. Overall information quality was low to moderate. Instagram had the highest DISCERN and PRHISM scores, followed by Facebook, while TikTok had the lowest. In unadjusted analyses, DISCERN scores were significantly lower on TikTok than Instagram, while PRHISM scores were significantly lower on TikTok than both Instagram and Facebook. Healthcare professionals produced videos with significantly higher DISCERN scores than non-medical creators (34.05 ± 6.63 vs 25.66 ± 5.77; p < 0.001) and higher PRHISM scores (49.14 ± 9.16 vs 31.53 ± 7.83; p < 0.001). However, non-medical creators received significantly more likes and shares. Greater engagement was associated with lower information quality in unadjusted analyses, but these associations were attenuated after adjustment for platform and creator type. Conclusion: The quality of MBS-related information in the sampled social-media videos was low to moderate. Although TikTok showed lower information-quality scores than Instagram and Facebook in unadjusted analyses, the platform difference in DISCERN scores was attenuated after adjustment for creator type. Healthcare professionals provided higher-quality content but received less engagement, highlighting the need for accurate, accessible, and engaging evidence-based MBS information on social media.
Funding Information
  • University of Basel

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