System and method for monitoring weight and nutrition

• US 20040002041A1
• Filed: 01/31/2003
• Published: 01/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FloSports, Inc.
• Original Assignee: National Wrestling Coaches Association
• Inventors: Neiman, David, Utter, Alan, Peplinski, Daniel M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,247,023 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/127
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0092 Nutrition
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/921 Diet management

Abstract

A website provides a weight and nutritional program over a network. The website allows users to input an assessment of a subject, which can be used to generate a weight plan for the subject. The weight plan can include minimum weights for the subject, each of the minimum weights being associated with a time. The website can also be used to generate a nutrition plan based on the subject data entered. A subject can build the nutrition plan by responding to a series of food exchange item prompts.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a weight and nutritional program over a network, comprising:

providing a menu of data entry options, at least one of the data entry options allowing entry of data for generating an assessment of a subject;

generating a weight plan based on the subject assessment data, the weight plan including a plurality of minimum weights for the subject, each of the minimum weights being associated with a time; and

generating a nutritional plan based on the subject data entered, wherein generating the nutrition plan comprises;

providing a series of food exchange item displays to the user;

receiving food exchange item selections from the user; and

generating a nutritional plan based on the user'"'"'s selections.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

storing the initial assessment data on a computer-readable medium.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising:

storing the weight plan on a computer-readable medium.

4. The method of claim 3, comprising:

storing the nutritional plan on a computer readable medium.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising:

determining the subject'"'"'s body fat percentage using the assessment data.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the subject'"'"'s body fat percentage comprises:

determining subject body density;

determining subject fat weight; and

determining subject fat free weight.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein providing a menu of data entry options comprises:

providing an option for entry of subject weight; and

providing an option for entry of data describing a subject'"'"'s percentage of body fat.

8. The method of claim 6, comprising:

displaying the subject body fat percentage at the assessment data entry option; and

displaying a first value of the plurality of minimum weights at the assessment data entry option.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein generating a nutritional plan comprises:

providing a prompt for entry of the subject'"'"'s activity level.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein generating a nutritional plan comprises:

determining a resting energy expenditure of the subject; and

determining an average daily total energy expenditure of the subject.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein generating a nutritional plan comprises:

determining a recommended daily energy intake for the subject.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein generating the nutritional plan comprises:

generating the nutritional plan based on the weight plan.

13. The method of claim 1, comprising:

providing a menu of report options.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the report options comprise:

an option to request a report including the subject'"'"'s initial assessment data and a first minimum weight value.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

initial assessment data, weight plans, and nutritional plans for a plurality of subjects are stored on computer-readable media, and wherein the report options comprise;

an option to request a list of the subjects, the subjects'"'"' alpha date, alpha weight, and alpha body fat.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the list comprises:

minimum wrestling weights and weight classes for the subjects.

17. The method of claim 1, comprising providing a menu for access by one or more subjects, the subjects access menu comprising:

an option to build the nutritional plan.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein generating a nutritional plan comprises:

providing a prompt for entry of the subject'"'"'s activity level.

19. The method of claim 1, comprising:

providing a menu for access by one or more assessors, the assessor access menu providing access for persons designated by a governing body.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the assessors menu allows an assessor to generate an alpha master report of wrestlers.

21. The method of claim 1, comprising:

providing an instruction menu, the instruction menu including a plurality of options that describe how to use the menus provided, one of the options including instructions describing skin fold measurements.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein providing a series of food exchange item displays to the user comprises:

providing an item display of dairy food items;

providing an item display of protein food items;

providing an item display of vegetable food items;

providing an item display of fruit food items; and

providing an item display of starch food items.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a weight plan comprises:

determining a first minimum weight value using the subject'"'"'s weight, body fat percentage, and fat weight; and

iteratively decreasing the first minimum weight by a constant factor, each successive decrease in the first minimum weight corresponding to a successive minimum weight period for a successive time period.

24. The method of claim 1, comprising:

providing menu options for a program addressed to scholastic wrestlers and for a program addressed to collegiate wrestlers.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the network is one of the Internet or an intranet.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein generating a weight plan comprises:

receiving an input of the subject'"'"'s weight;

determining the subject'"'"'s body fat percentage;

calculating a lowest allowable weight-one based at least in part on the subject'"'"'s body fat percentage; and

determining a plurality of minimum weight values based on the lowest allowable weight-one, each minimum weight value being associated with a time.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein calculating a lowest allowable weight-one comprises:

determining the subject'"'"'s fat weight;

determining the subject'"'"'s fat free weight;

multiplying the subject'"'"'s body weight by the body fat percentage to calculate the fat weight;

subtracting the fat weight from the body weight to calculate the free fat weight; and

dividing the free fat weight by a factor.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein determining the subject'"'"'s body fat percentage comprises:

determining the subject'"'"'s hydrated weight; and

determining the subject'"'"'s body density.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the subject is allowed to lose a preselected percentage of his body weight in a discrete time period, the preselected percentage being mandated by a governing body.

30. A method for providing a nutritional plan, comprising:

determining an expected energy expenditure for a subject based at least in part on the subject'"'"'s predicted activity level;

determining a recommended energy intake based on the expected energy expenditure;

providing a list of food exchanges for the subject;

allowing the subject to select items from the food exchanges; and

providing the nutritional plan resulting from the subject'"'"'s selections.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the method is executed over a network.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein determining an expected energy expenditure comprises:

determining a resting energy expenditure.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein providing a list of food exchanges comprises:

providing successive menus of differing types of foods, and indicating an allowable quantity that may be selected for each type of food.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein providing successive menus of differing types of foods comprises:

providing an item display of dairy food items;

providing an item display of protein food items;

providing an item display of vegetable food items;

providing an item display of fruit food items; and

providing an item display of starch food items.

35. The method of claim 30, comprising:

prompting the subject to enter age and height.

36. The method of claim 30, wherein determining a recommended energy intake comprises:

determining a recommended energy intake based at least in part on a preselected schedule of minimum weights the subject is permitted to have over a period of time.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the preselected schedule of minimum weights is determined from collegiate or scholastic standards for wrestlers.

38. A system for performing a weight and nutritional program, comprising:

a server computer hosting the functions of providing a menu of data entry options, generating a weight plan, and generating a nutritional plan;

wherein

the server computer provides a user interface accessible through a computer network by a plurality of remote computers, wherein a the user interface is programmed to;

receive user selections from the menu of data entry options, and to receive data for generating an assessment of a subject through the menu of data entry options;

provide the weight plan to the user;

provide a series of food exchange item displays to the user;

receive food exchange item selections from the user; and

provide the nutritional plan to the user.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the user interface is programmed to provide displays of the following food exchange items:

an item display of dairy food items;

an item display of protein food items;

an item display of vegetable food items;

an item display of fruit food items; and

an item display of starch food items.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the user interface is programmed receive user input describing the following:

data describing subject body density; and

data describing subject weight.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the user interface is programmed to provide displays of the following:

the subject'"'"'s body fat percentage; and

a plurality of minimum weights for the subject, each weight being associated with a time.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein the user interface is programmed to receive an input describing:

the subject'"'"'s activity level;

a resting energy expenditure of the subject; and

an average daily total energy expenditure of the subject.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the user interface is programmed to provide displays of the following:

a recommended daily energy intake for the subject; and

a menu of report options.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein the report options comprise an option to request a report including the subject'"'"'s initial assessment data and a first minimum weight value, and wherein,

the system comprises at least one computer-readable medium, the system storing initial assessment data, weight plans, and nutritional plans for a plurality of subjects on the at least one computer-readable medium.

45. The system of claim 44, and wherein the report options comprise:

an option to request a list of one or more of the subjects, the subjects'"'"' alpha date, alpha weight, and alpha body fat.

46. The system of claim 38, wherein the user interface is programmed to provide:

a menu option to allow a user to build the nutritional plan.

47. The system of claim 38, wherein the user interface is programmed to provide:

a menu for access by one or more assessors, the assessor access menu providing access for persons designated by a governing body; and

an menu for an alpha master report of wrestlers.

48. The system of claim 38, wherein the interface is programmed to:

provide an instruction menu, the instruction menu including a plurality of options that describe how to use the menus provided; and

provide menu options for a program addressed to scholastic wrestlers and to a program addressed to collegiate wrestlers.

49. The system of claim 38, wherein the network is one of the Internet or an intranet.

50. A computer-readable medium comprising indicia representing a program which when executed performs the following functions:

providing a menu of data entry options, at least one of the data entry options allowing entry of data for generating an assessment of a subject, the assessment data including subject weight, height, and data describing subject body fat;

generating a weight plan based on the subject assessment data, the weight plan including a plurality of minimum weights for the subject, each of the minimum weights being associated with a time; and

generating a nutritional plan based on the subject data entered, wherein generating the nutrition plan comprises;

providing a series of food exchange item displays to the user, the food exchange item displays including dairy, carbohydrate, fruit, and vegetable food item displays;

receiving food exchange item selections from the user, including a quantity of selected food exchange items; and

generating a nutritional plan based on the user'"'"'s selections, wherein the nutritional plan is generated to conform to the weight plan.

51. The computer-readable medium of claim 50, wherein the program which when executed performs the following functions:

receiving user instructions over one or more of the Internet or an intranet;

providing access to certain subject data when a user identification and a user password are received that correspond to a subject'"'"'s identification and password; and

providing access to certain subject data when a user identification and a user password are received that correspond to a non-subject, third-party user identification and password.

52. The computer-readable medium of claim 51, wherein the weight plan is based on a maximum allowable weight loss of 1.5% of body weight in a one week period.