According to a World Health Organization, 30% of the global population is overweight and 10% are obese and if these figures don’t change soon, humanity may be headed towards a new health crisis. However, losing weight isn’t as simple as it sounds. Apart from the psychological side of weight loss, factors such as genetics, economic status, stress, and hormones can affect the outcome. In order for exercise and dieting to be effective, they need to be designed in a personalized way, depending on each individual’s needs and goals, and experts are starting to pull the alarm on the dangers of overhyped diets. Instead, technology can address the biggest challenges of weight loss and help users finally get the results they wanted, sometimes even without seeing a personal trainer or nutritionist.
From easy to use fitness apps to calorie trackers and AI-powered nutrition apps, here’s how tech can make weight loss simpler.
Calorie trackers
There are many approaches to weight loss, but the general consensus is that decreasing calorie intake is crucial. Over the course of a normal day, the average person may eat more than intended by not practicing portion control, snacking too much between meals, or consuming high-calorie meals without knowing, but calorie tracking apps have changed that. These handy little apps are one of the first applications of technology in weight loss and, according to many, they are the ones that started a new wave of innovative services. According to the latest statistics, more than half of people aged 30-45 have use apps to track their diets and those who won’t imagine using one in the future. Although the number of calories that need to be consumed daily vary based on details such as age, gender, height, weight, and BMI, nutritionists agree that calorie counters are highly effective because they give users more insights into what they eat in a day and this alone can serve as a motivation to lose weight.
At-home guided fitness apps
For those people who can’t or won’t go to a gym to work out, at-home guided fitness apps can be just as effective. Some of the best fitness apps out there have features that can rival professional personal trainers in that they deliver structured fitness programs based on the user’s experience and goals. From running and cycling to Pilates and Yoga, there are hundreds of great fitness apps that iOS and Android (News - Alert) users can download to stay in shape. Besides, developers have been focusing more and more on the interactive element, so that users also receive motivational messages and progress reports to keep them going. Used in conjunction with wearables such as Fitbit, these apps become even more effective because they can serve as a means of communication with trainers and medical professionals. For example, if the user doesn’t end their workout, they can receive a message from a professional asking them what’s wrong and have their routine adjusted if necessary. Extra features such as wellness and mindfulness exercises also keep users connect and motivate them on their journey.
The gamification of fitness
Calorie trackers and fitness apps can be effective, but they cannot always work alone. Personal motivation remains a major factor and if the user simply doesn’t open them for days, that could become a problem. To address this challenge, and make working out more fun for people who find it hard to stay motivated, developers are working on apps that add a gamification element to fitness. For example, the fitness app Zombies, Run! doesn’t just have the user run. Instead, it tells an engaging story, creates an obstacle course in a post-apocalyptic world, and gives missions such as dodging and picking up items to make jogging more entertaining. Once the jogging session is complete, users receive items and supplies that they can use to fortify their base and create a community of survivors. Complete with realistic audio effects, this game is an immersive experience that feels more like a thrilling adventure than a simple running exercise.
The role of AI
Artificial Intelligence has changed many fields, and health is no exception. Through AI, scientists are hoping to make apps more personalized and address the individual challenges that make weight goals harder to achieve. For example, one app developed by Nestlé Japan uses AI to analyze whether the user has a sufficient intake of proteins and fats. The company also launched Nestle XiaoAI, their first voice-recognition smart family nutrition health assistant, which uses AI to understand dietary habits and recommends healthy nutritional solutions. Another app, Calorie Mama, uses advanced photo recognition to understand what and how much users eat and then creates personalized weight loss plans using AI. This way, users don’t have to insert meals separately, nor do they have to interpret the nutrition data generated by the app. This technology is still in the early stages, but the end goal is to make weight loss simpler by delivering accurate, personalized suggestions with minimum user effort.
Smart scales
Many people make the mistake of judging their level of physical fitness based on the number on the scales, but this rarely tells the whole story. For example, after starting to work out, you can start gaining weight because you’re building muscle, but seeing a higher number on the scale can get you demotivated and stop you from going to the gym. Smart scales make weight assessments more accurate by factoring in stats such as BMI, muscle mass, bone mass, and heart rate. Brands such as Fitbit, Withings, and Garmin (News - Alert) have already launched smart scales and, by pairing them with health apps and wearables, you can track your progress get a better overview of your physical fitness.
