% 2010
M artin L uther K ing J r .
January 13, 2010
s p e c / a 1 e d itio n
Page 21
Fighting Fat Goes High Tech
Devices monitor
eating, exercise
(AP) - The fight against fat is
going high-tech. To get an inside
look at eating and exercise habits,
scientists are developing wearable
wireless sensors to monitor over­
weight and obese people as they go
about their daily lives.
The experimental devices are
designed to keep track of how many
minutes they work out, how much
food they consum e and even
whether they are at a fast-food joint
when they should be in the park.
The goal is to cut down on self-
reported answers that often cover
up what's really happening.
In a lab in this Los Angeles sub­
urb, two overweight teenagers help
test the devices by taking turns
sitting, standing, lying down, run­
ning on a treadmill and playing Wii.
As music thumps in the background,
wireless sensors on their chests
record their heart rates, stress levels
and amount ot physical activity
The information is sent to a cell
phone.
"I can't feel my legs," 15-year-old
Amorette Castillo groans after her
second treadmill run.
Traditional weight-loss interven­
tions rely mainly on people's memory
of what they ate for dinner and how
many minutes they worked out. But
researchers have long known that
method can be unreliable since
people often forget details or lie.
The new devices are being de­
signed in labs or created with off-
the-shelf parts. Some similar instru­
ments are already on the market,
including a model that tracks calo­
ries burned by measuring motion,
sweat and heat with armbands.
But the devices in development
aim to be more sophisticated by
featuring more precise electronics
and sometimes even video cameras.
Many emerging systems also strive
to provide instant feedback and
personalized treatment for wearers.
At the University of Southern
H ea lth W atch
Pow erful T ools F or C aregivers - 6-w eek educational
series designed to help family caregivers take care of
themselves while caring for relatives or friends with chronic
illness. Class size is limited, and registration is required.
Call503-413-8018.
will get pinged with a text message.
"We'll be able to know real-time if
they're inactive, if they're active,"
said Donna Spruijt-Metz, a USCchild
obesity expert in charge of the
project.
The devices are made possible
by advances in technology such as
accelerometers that can measure the
duration and intensity of a workout.
They also use Bluetooth-enabled
cell phones that can take pictures of
meals and send information back.
Will all this wizardry lead to a
slim m er society? Scientists say
there's reason to hope. Getting an
accurate picture of what people eat
and how often they move around
will help researchers develop per­
sonalized weight-loss advice.
Obesity is epidemic in the United
4moretie Castillo, 15 (right) is fitted with a wireless sensor to
States with two-thirds of adults ei­
gather vital signs and a cell phone for gathering data, in an
ther overweight or obese. It's a ma­
experiment to keep track of eating and exercise habits.
jo r health concern for children and
adolescents, who are at higher risk
California lab, the teens alternated nicalbugs. Later this year, some will for high blood pressure, high cho­
between being sedentary and ac- wear the body sensors at home on lesterol and diabetes as they grow
tive as researchers resolved the tech- weekends. If they get too lazy, they older.
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Health Care for Kids
State program fully expanded
Gov. Ted Kulongoski recently an­
nounced that more than 20,000 Oregon
M an agin g C h ro n ic H epatitis C - Third Wednesday of
children now have access to health care
each month at 5 p.m. The informative session is led by a
because of the Healthy Kids Plan passed
L eg A lert S creen in g - Check for peripheral arterial dis­ registered nurse to help you manage side effects of medi­
during the 2009 legislative session.
ease with this safe, simple screening using ankle and arm cations and dosage preparations and administration;
Since July, the Department o f Human
blood pressure. The fee is $40. To schedule an appoint­ doctor referral required. To register, call 503-251 -6313.
Services has been enrolling eligible chil­
ment, call 503-251-6137.
dren in the Healthy Kids Plan. Today’s
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enrollment numbers show that the state is
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Ted Kulongoski on sc^ec^ule to meet its goal o f enrolling
8 p.m. For information, call 503-256-4000.
2:45 p.m. at Adventist Medical Center. For information, call
80,000 uninsured children by the end of
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children will have health insurance.
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Healthy Kids provides several options for families to obtain
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health insurance for their children, depending on income level.
No Cost: The plan provides free coverage through the Oregon
M S
■ ■
Health Plan for children in families with incomes up to 200percent
of the federal poverty level (or $44,100 for a family of four).
Low-Cost: The program offers a cost-share model to assist
Oregon’s middle-class families earning too much to qualify for
the Oregon Health Plan, but too little to purchase private
insurance on their own. On a sliding scale, these families share
the cost with the state or can receive a subsidy to help pay for
their child’s coverage through an employer sponsored insur­
ance plan.
If you have work experience in
Full Cost: For children in families with incomes above 300
percent of the federal povertyievel (or $66,000 for a family of
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is the place you’ve dreamed of working
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‘Many parents are struggling in this difficult economy. One
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every parent with uninsured children to apply for Healthy Kids
today.
Visit us at www.careoregon.org
»
Parents can learn more about Healthy Kids and apply online
m
and click on careers
at oreognhealthykids.gov or by calling 1 -877-314-5678.
Do you want to help?
CareOregon