Exercise log on the phone

A new device helps monitor low-level physical activity with a cell phone. It is designed to cater to those people who are overweight or obese due to poor eating habits, genetics, and a lack of exercise.

A new device helps monitor low-level physical activity with a cell phone. It is designed to cater to those people who are overweight or obese due to poor eating habits, genetics, and a lack of exercise. The device has a program that helps people monitor their normal physical activity using an everyday device.

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The idea took hold when a study showed that under a controlled diet, leaner people tend to spend two-and-a-half more hours per day standing than did heavier people. The results indicated that leaner people were more active in their day-to-day activities.

The current version of the device is fairly basic, and uses the accelerometer in the phone to convert motion into activity units.The user inputs their height and weight into the program and throughout the day, their score can be monitored.

The program tells the user if they are winning or losing against the computer. Turning physical activity into a game makes people more competitive and more likely to get active.
Eurekalert