Phone application helps to prevent obesity

Using a simple phone application to photograph food is an effective way to prevent obesity, according to a new trial published May 12.

Scientists at the University of Liverpool (UK) are developing a phone application to help people remember what they eat and drink during the day and remind them not to eat foods that are too much calorie, according to AFP.

Using a simple phone application, taking food photos before and after meals, helps prevent obesity - (Photo: AFP)

This application works in three steps: Before eating, after eating and before eating the next meal. Before eating, users will take pictures to save the food.

After eating, the user looks at the previous photograph, and answers questions like: 'Did you eat / drink all?', 'Do you feel full now?'

Before eating the next meal, users will be able to see all the food / drinks they consumed during the day, and receive messages to help them remember what they ate.

The researchers invited obese people to attend and watched their use of the application over four weeks. The results showed that the average study participant used the application more than 5 times a day. And after four weeks, most of them lose weight.

'Raising awareness about eating and weight through this application can be very effective. This is a promising research result , "said AFP researcher Eric Robinson of the University of Liverpool.

The study was published in the European Association for the Study of Obesity in Liverpool.