1. Taha Y. Merghani
Computer Engineering
Jackson State University
taha.y.merghani@gmail.com
Haley MacLeod
School of Informatics and Computing
Indiana University-- Bloomington
hemacleo@indiana.edu
HealthyMe: Real-Time, Self-Monitoring Weight Loss App
OVERVIEW
Figure 1 [Goals] Figure 2 [Goals Tracking]
Research has shown that self-monitoring can be
beneficial in weight loss programs if accompanied
with proper conformity and accuracy1
.
We have created a mobile self-monitoring system
that incorporates goal setting, social support, and
exercise tracking to improve the experiences of
weight loss program participants.
The end goal of this project is to examine whether
such a system would enhance the efficacy and cost-
effectiveness of the HealthyMe weight loss
program.
Dr. Kay Connelly
School of Informatics and Computing
Indiana University-- Bloomington
connelly@indiana.edu
METHODOLOGY
We conducted observations and interviews with
participants from the Healthy Me Program. The results
of those observations and interviews indicate a need
for four components in the application:
1] Goal Setting
2] Exercise Tracking
3] Food Tracking
4] Social Support from Coaches and Peers
We have designed and implemented each of these
features in an application for Android OS, currently
Android KitKat 4.4.2 using Eclipse SDK 4.3.
Upon completion of the application, we will give the
application to participants to evaluate.
Current Work and Discussion
For the course of the past 8 weeks we were working on
implementing additional features to the pre-existing version of the
app. These features are:
1) Recoding usage time of each section.
A part of our research focuses on how the users spend their time
using the app. We believe that monitoring the time spent on each
section would help us observe the shortcomings and the strengths
of a particular deployment.
This part has been successfully implemented in-app from a
functional standpoint; however, we are working on shifting the data
display to the server.This way we can effectively monitor usage time
of each section of the app. Fig (6).
2) Replenishing the camera page with lists
of local photos.
As dietary assessment represents an elementary aspect of the
system, suitable implementation of photolisting is a major facet of
the app that was being implemented.
The part is successfully implemented. Fig(5)
3) Creating shortcut of making a post after taking a photo.
The older version of the app has a separate section to handle photo
sharing. Now we are giving the users the option to share their
photos upon capture or/and button click on the photo gallery.
This part is currently being worked on.
REFERENCES
By giving the users and coaches the ability to
continuously communicate and share data about diet,
weight and exercise goals, we are expecting to raise
the average weight loss of participants without
incurring considerable expense, if any. Therefore, this
will set the bar for prospective Human Computer
Interaction (HCI) research for a “ clinical trial to
evaluate the use of mobile health tracking tools in
facilitating both self-monitoring and social network ties
within an already successful weight loss program”2
.
Healthy Me Mobile
Shenshen Han
School of Education
Indiana University Bloomington
shenhan@indiana.edu
What is Next ?
“Setting an optional reminder for unfinished goals.”
To buttress tracking experience, we deem this functionality very
helpful, and, as such, lined it up for implementation.
This is the upcoming task upon the completion of the ongoing two.
* Local deployment will take place as soon as the above mentioned
tasks are done, tested, and troubleshooted, if need be. Next, we will
analyze the users and coaches experience to gauge the efficacy and
profitability of the final product.
* Finally, a scientific research paper about the findings of this
project is to be published shortly afterwards.
Figure 3 [Share Section] Figure 4 [Activity Tracking]
Figure 6 [Duration Recording]Figure 5 [Dietary Tracking]
1. Samuel-Hodge CD, Johnston LF, Gizlice Z, et al: Randomized trial of a behavioral
weight loss intervention for low-income women: the Weight Wise Program. Obesity
(Silver Spring) 2009;17:1891-1899.`
2. Kay Connelly. Developing Mobile Self-Monitoring Support for HealthyMe (
Proposal ). 2011,12,28. http://www.iu.edu/~phitlab/indiana/?page_id=61
![Taha Y. Merghani
Computer Engineering
Jackson State University
taha.y.merghani@gmail.com
Haley MacLeod
School of Informatics and Computing
Indiana University-- Bloomington
hemacleo@indiana.edu
HealthyMe: Real-Time, Self-Monitoring Weight Loss App
OVERVIEW
Figure 1 [Goals] Figure 2 [Goals Tracking]
Research has shown that self-monitoring can be
beneficial in weight loss programs if accompanied
with proper conformity and accuracy1
.
We have created a mobile self-monitoring system
that incorporates goal setting, social support, and
exercise tracking to improve the experiences of
weight loss program participants.
The end goal of this project is to examine whether
such a system would enhance the efficacy and cost-
effectiveness of the HealthyMe weight loss
program.
Dr. Kay Connelly
School of Informatics and Computing
Indiana University-- Bloomington
connelly@indiana.edu
METHODOLOGY
We conducted observations and interviews with
participants from the Healthy Me Program. The results
of those observations and interviews indicate a need
for four components in the application:
1] Goal Setting
2] Exercise Tracking
3] Food Tracking
4] Social Support from Coaches and Peers
We have designed and implemented each of these
features in an application for Android OS, currently
Android KitKat 4.4.2 using Eclipse SDK 4.3.
Upon completion of the application, we will give the
application to participants to evaluate.
Current Work and Discussion
For the course of the past 8 weeks we were working on
implementing additional features to the pre-existing version of the
app. These features are:
1) Recoding usage time of each section.
A part of our research focuses on how the users spend their time
using the app. We believe that monitoring the time spent on each
section would help us observe the shortcomings and the strengths
of a particular deployment.
This part has been successfully implemented in-app from a
functional standpoint; however, we are working on shifting the data
display to the server.This way we can effectively monitor usage time
of each section of the app. Fig (6).
2) Replenishing the camera page with lists
of local photos.
As dietary assessment represents an elementary aspect of the
system, suitable implementation of photolisting is a major facet of
the app that was being implemented.
The part is successfully implemented. Fig(5)
3) Creating shortcut of making a post after taking a photo.
The older version of the app has a separate section to handle photo
sharing. Now we are giving the users the option to share their
photos upon capture or/and button click on the photo gallery.
This part is currently being worked on.
REFERENCES
By giving the users and coaches the ability to
continuously communicate and share data about diet,
weight and exercise goals, we are expecting to raise
the average weight loss of participants without
incurring considerable expense, if any. Therefore, this
will set the bar for prospective Human Computer
Interaction (HCI) research for a “ clinical trial to
evaluate the use of mobile health tracking tools in
facilitating both self-monitoring and social network ties
within an already successful weight loss program”2
.
Healthy Me Mobile
Shenshen Han
School of Education
Indiana University Bloomington
shenhan@indiana.edu
What is Next ?
“Setting an optional reminder for unfinished goals.”
To buttress tracking experience, we deem this functionality very
helpful, and, as such, lined it up for implementation.
This is the upcoming task upon the completion of the ongoing two.
* Local deployment will take place as soon as the above mentioned
tasks are done, tested, and troubleshooted, if need be. Next, we will
analyze the users and coaches experience to gauge the efficacy and
profitability of the final product.
* Finally, a scientific research paper about the findings of this
project is to be published shortly afterwards.
Figure 3 [Share Section] Figure 4 [Activity Tracking]
Figure 6 [Duration Recording]Figure 5 [Dietary Tracking]
1. Samuel-Hodge CD, Johnston LF, Gizlice Z, et al: Randomized trial of a behavioral
weight loss intervention for low-income women: the Weight Wise Program. Obesity
(Silver Spring) 2009;17:1891-1899.`
2. Kay Connelly. Developing Mobile Self-Monitoring Support for HealthyMe (
Proposal ). 2011,12,28. http://www.iu.edu/~phitlab/indiana/?page_id=61](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/b2e07bbb-f254-46c3-9220-823c54882fc6-150216204451-conversion-gate01/85/My-HealthyMe-Poster-unifed-1-320.jpg)
