Sensors and software to track physical activity today are extremely popular in America.
This is facilitated by the growth of productivity and capabilities of modern smartphones.
But when it comes to the amount eaten, then all ingenious devices should depend on the messages of the user himself.
It turns out that in a country where 2/3 of the adult population is obese or overweight, there is not a single portable device for objective control of the mass and calorie content of food eaten.
Dr. Edward Sazonov (Edward Sazonov), an electrical engineering teacher from the University of Alabama, hopes to change this with his wearable automatic swallowing monitor. His development is worn behind the ear like a Bluetooth headset and tracks the amount of food eaten per day. Information can be transferred to the doctor or used for calculations in various sports applications.
"Weight gain is observed because of the imbalance of calories consumed with food and energy expenditure. We can evaluate the diet and nutrient intake, but the main source of information remains the words of patients. The new sensor provides objective information that helps to better understand food behavior associated with obesity and other disorders, "explains Dr. Sazonov.
The researcher received a $ 1.8 million grant from the US National Institutes of Health for testing a wearable sensor that is designed to control a diet. This device has already proven its worth, but it is going to be upgraded, made even more compact and convenient to carry.
The device, called the Automatic Ingestion Monitor (AIM), registers swallowing acts, counts the amount of food taken and the energy value of the diet. The sensor detects vibrations caused by movement of the jaws while swallowing. The device is programmed in such a way that the sensor filters "unnecessary" movements of the jaw, such as during a conversation. Evaluation of the energy value of the diet is based on the image of food and beverages.
"Some people with obesity food can be an unconscious, almost automatic process. The literature is full of examples of eating behavior, which increases the risk of overweight, "- says Sazonov.
In the course of his research, Dr. Sazonov will compare AIM's accuracy with other alternative methods.
For comparison, a complex test will be used with double labeled water - water, which contains stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen. Scientists will observe the process of elimination of water that has entered the body, which takes about 2 weeks. Information will be useful in assessing the amount of energy consumed by a person for a certain period of time.
Despite the great possibilities, this method is quite expensive and requires special medical training and equipment. In this test with double labeled water does not help to track the patient's eating habits.
The information collected by the portable AIM monitor during the day can be used to develop individual weight loss strategies and new treatments for obesity. In addition, AIM makes it possible to objectively evaluate the effectiveness of pharmacological and behavioral therapy of obesity and nutritional disorders. Today these opportunities are severely limited.
medbe. en.
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