How Technology Can Aid in Weight Loss

In the world of advancing technology almost everyone has access to the internet. In some ways this is great, giving more knowledge to anyone looking. However, it also gives way for more confusion. Suddenly, a celebrity can be an expert on nutrition or a new diet plan can spread across the world, even when it is unrealistic or even worse unsafe for long term plan.

But with this access to technology, it can also provide tools for those who are looking for help. A phrase in the world of nutrition, especially among doctors and dietitians, is "the number one predictor of weight loss is keeping a food diary, the number one predictor of weight maintenance is exercise." This saying has been backed by multiple studies, and seems to be at least a good place for most people to start who are determined to lose or maintain their weight.

When I started my Bachelor's degree over 6 years ago, I had an assignment to keep a food diary. Back then, you had to drag around a piece of paper or spiral, write everything down by hand. Then you had to look at labels or look up in a book or online each specific food and write down all of the nutrients we were tracking. We only had to do it for 4 days, but I didn't ever want to do it again. I couldn't imagine someone having the stamina and determination to keep it up for a week, let alone months or years. Now there are apps such as MyFitness Pal. They have a large database of foods with their nutrition. You select how much you ate and it counts it toward your daily tally. Once you eat the food once, it is in your history and is even easier to find the next time. It makes it much easier to keep track of calories and goals for things such as calories and fat. It becomes a habit after a while, and before you know it, you've been tracking what you ate for over 3 months!

Then exercise. Some people are gym rats and will find time no matter what. But what about the people who are working 60 hour weeks or two or three jobs just trying to provide for their family? What about people who cannot afford to have a gym membership, and have no exercise to nice facilities? In multiple studies, it has been found that taking 10,000 steps a day is about equal to exercising moderately for 30 minutes. Some may ask how this works. But think about it. I'm 5'2",my brother is just under 6'. When I walk with him, I generally have to take 2-3 steps to match his one. 

The great thing about this knowledge is almost everyone can add walking to their day. They can take the stairs instead of the elevator. They can park in the back of the grocery store parking lot. They can walk around their building at lunch. Pedometers are widely available and can be anywhere from $5-$500, making it possible for any budget to get one. 

Continue to watch technology. There are daily new apps and gadgets that can help people learn to watch what they eat, be more active, and live a healthier life.