Print | Email | Share | Comments (0)

Who Needs Richard Simmons? DietMate Can Help You Cut The Weight

Apr 1, 1996

The new year is just a few months old, but how many of us have kept our New Year's resolutions to lose weight? For many people, that promise went into the dumpster with the Christmas fruitcake.

PICS, Inc. is testing the DietMate, a portable computer that could be a great motivater for people who want to lose extra pounds. In a study funded by the National Institutes of Health, volunteers are using the DietMate to control cholesterol and weight.

The DietMate reminds users to weigh themselves in the morning and gives menu suggestions. Users enter their food consumption into the computer, and it subtracts the amount of fat, calories, and cholesterol from the daily allotment. If the user has overeaten, the DietMate suggests smaller meals throughout the day and the next day offers more suggestions.

Dr. Albert Jerome, one of the product's developers, says, "DietMate is effective because it helps structure appropriate food choices and provides a simple means for tracking progress."

One participant in the study, federal employee Jim Frater, lost 31 pounds in twelve weeks by using the DietMate. He subsequently dropped 81 points from his total cholesterol level.

Jim Frater's computer tells him on the morning after a day of overeating, "Watch your calorie intake more carefully today, Jim!" or "Choose foods that are lower in cholesterol today, Jim!"

Frater said it took about a week to get used to the computer, and then it became a part of his lifestyle. When he reached his goal weight, the DietMate played fanfare. Since then, Frater has maintained his weight loss.

PICS, Inc., the DietMate's developer, is best known for the LifeSign Stop Smoking Product which helps people quit lighting up with the help of a credit card-size computer. One million people have used the LifeSign to stop smoking. Future studies will use computers to help people to control hypertension and diabetes. For more information, call PICS at (800) 543-3744.

Categories: Diabetes, Diets, Food, Losing weight, Products

Comments

Add your comments about this article below. You can add comments as a registered user or anonymously. If you choose to post anonymously your comments will be sent to our moderator for approval before they appear on this page. If you choose to post as a registered user your comments will appear instantly.

When voicing your views via the comment feature, please respect the Diabetes Health community by refraining from comments that could be considered offensive to other people. Diabetes Health reserves the right to remove comments when necessary to maintain the cordial voice of the diabetes community.

For your privacy and protection, we ask that you do not include personal details such as address or telephone number in any comments posted.

Don't have your Diabetes Health Username? Register now and add your comments to all our content.

Have Your Say...

Registered User Anonymous

Your Name:	Your Email:	X

Recipient's Name:	Recipient's Email:

Your Chosen Username:	Your Email Address:

Chosen Password:	Confirm Password:

Email to a Friend

Who Needs Richard Simmons? DietMate Can Help You Cut The Weight

You May Also Be Interested In...

Comments

Register...

Have Your Say...

Diabetes Health

Topics

Topics

Topics

Diabetes Health Medical Disclaimer

Comment: