Can technology help you lose weight?
By Mayo Clinic staffOriginal Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/weight-loss-apps/MY01757
- With Mayo Clinic nutritionists
Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Katherine Zeratsky and Jennifer Nelson
Jennifer K. Nelson, M.S., R.D., L.D., C.N.S.D.
Jennifer Nelson is your link to a better diet. As specialty editor of the nutrition and healthy eating guide, she plays a vital role in bringing you healthy recipes and meal planning."Nutrition is one way people have direct control over the quality of their lives," she says. "I hope to translate the science of nutrition into ways that people can select and prepare great-tasting foods that help maintain health and treat disease."
A St. Paul, Minn., native, she has been with Mayo Clinic since 1978, and is director of clinical dietetics and an associate professor of nutrition at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.
She leads clinical nutrition efforts for a staff of more than 60 clinical dietitians and nine dietetic technicians and oversees nutrition services, staffing, strategic and financial planning, and quality improvement. Nelson was co-editor of the "Mayo Clinic Diet" and the James Beard Foundation Award-winning "The New Mayo Clinic Cookbook." She has been a contributing author to and reviewer of many other Mayo Clinic books, including "Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight for EveryBody," "The Mayo Clinic Family Health Book" and "The Mayo Clinic/Williams Sonoma Cookbook." She contributes to the strategic direction of the Food & Nutrition Center, which includes creating recipes and menus, reviewing nutrition content of various articles, and providing expert answers to nutrition questions.
Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
As a specialty editor of the nutrition and healthy eating guide, Katherine Zeratsky helps you sort through the facts and figures, the fads and the hype to learn more about nutrition and diet.A Marinette, Wis., native, she is certified in dietetics by the state of Minnesota and the American Dietetic Association. She has been with Mayo Clinic since 1999.
She's active in nutrition-related curriculum and course development in wellness nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and nutrition related to weight management and practical applications of nutrition-related lifestyle changes.
Other areas of interest include food and nutrition for all life stages, active lifestyles and the culinary arts.
She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, served a dietetic internship at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and worked as a registered dietitian and health risk counselor at ThedaCare of Appleton, Wis., before joining the Mayo Clinic staff.
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Nutrition-wise blog
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May 11, 2011
Can technology help you lose weight?
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Are you trying to lose weight? Nearly 70 percent of Americans put themselves in that group. Yet only 9 percent can accurately estimate the number of calories they need each day based on their age, height, weight and activity level. Most people don't even monitor their daily calories, saying it's too difficult or takes too much time.
But calorie tracking doesn't have to be so difficult. Technology can help. Many online tools and mobile applications (apps) are available to help you figure out your daily calorie needs. You just have to provide your height, weight and age information. Some tools will also ask about your goals — do you want to lose weight or maintain your present weight — and your activity level.
What about the other half of the equation? Do you know how many calories you're burning each day? Technology can help there too. Numerous websites and apps provide estimates of calories burned during daily activities, such as mowing the lawn, and all varieties of exercise.
So what are you waiting for? Take advantage of technology to give your weight-loss efforts a boost. If you already use weight-loss apps or tools, what advice and tips can you offer?
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- 2011 Food & Health Survey. International Food Information Council Foundation. http://www.foodinsight.org. Accessed May 9, 2011.
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