Using Twitter as part of a weight loss program makes it more likely that you’ll successfully lose weight, according to a new study by the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health. The study involved 96 people who were tracked for six months and who were using either an Internet-connected iPhone, iPod Touch, a Blackberry or an Android phone.

All of the participants were sent weekly podcasts that coached them about nutrition, exercise and goal setting. In addition, half of the group received an app that helped them monitor their diet and physical activity, as well as a Twitter app.

“The results show that those who regularly utilized Twitter as part of a mobile weight loss program lost more weight,” said [Brie] Turner-McGrievy of the Arnold School’s Department of Health Promotion, Education and Behavior.

The study also found that “those who engaged with Twitter were more successful with losing weight, such that every 10 posts to Twitter corresponded with approximately −0.5 percent weight loss.” The Twitter-enabled group used the social networking service to keep in touch with and support each other, and they also received daily tweets from a weight loss counselor.

This is more evidence that using a social network can help you lose weight since we already know that social networks can make weight loss contagious among friends.