What to eat and where to get it! 9/19/20091. Who am I? ◦8 years of Navy as Electronics Technician (ET) 5 years on ships 3 years instructor ◦2 years.

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What to eat and where to get it!

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Who am I?

◦8 years of Navy as Electronics Technician (ET) 5 years on ships 3 years instructor

◦2 years customer trainer (Lockheed Martin)◦ODU Computer Science major, senior year

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Overview

ObesityExercise MythDietThe CustomerProvenderChallengesCompetition

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Obesity

What is obesity?◦“… ranges of weight that have been shown to

increase the likelihood of certain diseases and other health problems” (CDC 2009)

Who is obese?◦Adults

Body Mass Index (BMI) > 30 BMI = Formula: weight (lb) / [height (in)]2 x 703 (CDC

2009)◦Children

Varies depending on ageWhat are the trends?

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Health Consequences

Risks for the following conditions increase:◦ Coronary heart disease◦ Type 2 diabetes◦ Cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)◦ Hypertension (high blood pressure)◦ Dyslipidemia (for example, high total cholesterol or high levels of

triglycerides)◦ Stroke◦ Liver and Gallbladder disease◦ Sleep apnea and respiratory problems◦ Osteoarthritis (a degeneration of cartilage and its underlying bone

within a joint)◦ Gynecological problems (abnormal menses, infertility)

(CDC 2009)

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FAIL9/19/2009

• We’ve all been bombarded with images such as these.• Good diet and exercise right?• Why isn’t this working?

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Causes

Too Little Exercise?◦Common sense

Low activity from modern transportation and jobs Too many indoor leisure activities

◦Exercise is needed but falls short aloneBad Diet?

◦#1 factor in weight loss

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Exercise Myth

Public Library of Science (PLoS) non-profit study of overweight women found that exercise did not significantly increase weight loss (PLoS 2009)

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“Changes in Weight, Waist Circumference and Compensatory Responses with Different Doses of Exercise among Sedentary, Overweight Postmenopausal Women.” PLoS One February 2009. 19 September 2009 <http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0004515>

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Exercise Myth

A Loyola University Health System study on the activity level and diet of Chicago women versus Nigerian women found that despite similar activity levels Chicago woman weigh 60 pounds more on average. (Loyola Medicine 2009)◦Major difference?◦DIET

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“Physical Activity May Not Be Key to Obesity Epidemic, Loyola Study Finds.” Loyola Medicine 01 January 2009 19 September 2009 <http://loyolamedicine.org/News/News_Releases/news_release_detail.cfm?var_news_release_id=973440897>

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Exercise Myth

Why isn’t extra exercise effective?◦People typically compensate themselves with

more calories after more intensive workouts◦Called the “Compensation Effect”

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Cloud, John. “Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin.” Time Magazine 09 August 2009. 19 September 2009 <http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1914857,00.html>

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What to eat?

According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a healthy eating plan: ◦Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and

fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products◦ Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and

nuts◦ Is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt

(sodium), and added sugars◦Stays within your daily calorie needs

(CDC 2009)

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What to eat?

What does this mean exactly?◦ Americans (the customers) don’t know.

How to apply this?◦ What groceries are ok to buy?◦ Healthy recipes?◦ What products to buy?

Low fat? Omega-3? Steak? Chicken? Fish? Bake? Saute? Fry? Portions?

◦ Craving something like chocolate? What can be substituted?

The customer doesn’t know.

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Where to eat it?

Have to eat out? Where to go?◦Taco Bell?◦Wendy’s? – No greasy tacos?◦Panera? – Nicer chairs?

The customer doesn’t know where to go.

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Web server

Database

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iPhone Apps

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Find something healthy nearby!

Find a healthy recipe for dinner!

Food Finder

Recipe Finder

Food Scanne

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Is this healthy?

Diet Tracker

How much did I eat today?

Food-ucation

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Learn about healthy eating.

Craving? Find a healthy alternative.

FoodDatabase

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Marketing

Google style search◦Open food database search◦Combined with promoted products (or

restaurants) from advertisersProvide API for application developersProvide web site for direct database

search

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Challenges

UPC data from manufacturersRecipes and healthy product

recommendations◦No one source◦Many variations on advice from experts

Data from local restaurants

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Competition

Most of these applications exist as piece-meal applications◦Lose It! – Calorie counter and meal tracker◦Nutrition Menu – Food info on groceries, fast

food◦GoodFoodNearYou – Finds something healthy

close by◦Epicurious – Recipe finder◦Red Laser – iPhone barcode scanner

None of them provide consistent data

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Conclusions

Diet #1 factor in weight lossCustomers need help figuring out what to

eatCurrent available data falls short

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Questions?

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1. “Defining Overweight and Obesity.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 19 August 2009. 19 September 2009 <http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/defining.html>

2. “About BMI for Adults.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 27 July 2009. 19 September 2009 <http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_BMI/index.html#Definition>

3. “U.S. Obesity Trends.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 19 August 2009. 19 September 2009 <http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html>

4. “Health Consequences.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 19 August 2009. 19 September 2009 <http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/causes/health.html>

5. Cloud, John. “Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin.” Time Magazine 09 August 2009. 19 September 2009 http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1914857,00.html

6. “Changes in Weight, Waist Circumference and Compensatory Responses with Different Doses of Exercise among Sedentary, Overweight Postmenopausal Women.” PLoS One February 2009. 19 September 2009 <http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0004515>

7. “Physical Activity May Not Be Key to Obesity Epidemic, Loyola Study Finds.” Loyola Medicine 01 January 2009 19 September 2009 <http://loyolamedicine.org/News/News_Releases/news_release_detail.cfm?var_news_release_id=973440897>

8. “Healthy Eating for a Healthy Weight.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 27 January 2009. 19 September 2009 <http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/healthy_eating/index.html>

9. Trust For America's Health. "Obesity Epidemic Continues To Grow." ScienceDaily 28 August 2007. 19 September 2009 <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070827155540.htm>.

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Citations