Method and device for weight management of humans

• US 7,361,141 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2003
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Original Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Inventors: Nissila, Juuso, Kinnunen, Hannu, Nissila, Seppo
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasser, Jr.; Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Toth; Karen E
• Application Number:
  US10/637,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20050004436A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,719 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and device for weight management of humans. First, the user'"'"'s initial weight and his target weight are received via a user interface of the device, then food intake amount and exercise instructions to be presented via the user interface of the device are generated on the basis of the difference between the user'"'"'s initial weight and his target weight. In addition, the user'"'"'s energy expenditure is generated with the device and the user'"'"'s food intake amount is received via the user interface of the device. Further, the user'"'"'s current weight is received via the user interface and a change in the user'"'"'s weight is generated with the device. Further still, the food intake amount and/or exercise instructions to be presented via the user interface of the device are modified with the device on the basis of the change in the user'"'"'s weight.

Claims

1. A portable, personal electronic device for body weight management of a user thereof, comprising:

a control unit adapted to control the device; and

a user interface coupled to the control unit adapted to enter input information and obtain output information, the control unit being configured to receive an initial weight, a target weight, and a food intake amount of the user via the user interface, the control unit being configured to generate the energy expenditure of the user, to generate the food intake amount and exercise instructions based on a difference between the user'"'"'s initial weight and the user'"'"'s target weight for display via the user interface, to receive the user'"'"'s current weight via the user interface, and to generate a change in the user'"'"'s weight, the control unit being configured to calibrate itself if the change in the user'"'"'s weight does not correspond to an estimate made on the basis of the user'"'"'s food intake amount and the user'"'"'s energy expenditure by eliminating impact of at least one of errors caused by the user comprising incorrect input data entered by the user, levels of input data derived therefrom, and errors appearing in default settings made by the device, thereby modifying at least one of the food intake amount and the exercise instructions to be displayed via the user interface.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a heart rate measuring unit coupled to the control unit and measuring the user'"'"'s heart rate, the control unit being configured to take into account the measured heart rate of the user when generating the user'"'"'s energy expenditure.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device further comprises an activity unit coupled to the control unit and measuring the physical activity of the user, the control unit being configured to take into account the user'"'"'s physical activity when generating the user'"'"'s energy expenditure.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to generate a long-term average of the user'"'"'s physical activity, the average being taken into account when food intake amount and exercise instructions are generated.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to receive information defining the user'"'"'s age over the user interface and to take into account the user'"'"'s basal metabolic rate, defined on the basis of his age and weight, when generating the user'"'"'s energy expenditure.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to receive over the user interface information defining the user'"'"'s workload and to take the user'"'"'s workload into account when generating his energy expenditure.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to generate a change in the user'"'"'s weight on the basis of the user'"'"'s current weight and his initial weight or current weight received and stored previously.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to process the food amounts in terms of their energy contents.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the food intake amount instructions comprise a recommended energy content of a daily food intake amount.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the exercise instructions comprise recommended weekly exercising energy expenditure.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein if the user'"'"'s target weight is lower than his initial weight, the control unit is configured to determine for the user food intake amount instructions providing a daily food intake amount having an energy content that is lower than the user'"'"'s daily energy expenditure and exercise instructions that increase the user'"'"'s energy expenditure.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to generate a long-term average of the change in the user'"'"'s weight, the average being taken into account when food intake amount and exercise instructions are generated.

13. A device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to remind the user via the user interface to enter his current weight into the device via the user interface.

14. A device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to inform via the user interface the energy content of the food amount consumed within a predetermined period, the allowed total energy content determined for said predetermined period, and/or the difference between said total energy content and said energy content of the food amount consumed.

15. A device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to inform via the user interface the amount of energy expended in an exercise carried out within a predetermined period, the target exercise energy expenditure set for said predetermined period, and/or the difference between said target exercise energy expenditure and said expended energy amount.

16. A device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to prevent the energy content of the food intake amount instructions from dropping to a level that is too low and the energy content expended by applying the exercise instructions from increasing to a level that is too high.

17. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device is a part of a measuring device measuring energy expenditure in physical exercise.

18. A method of managing human body weight by using a portable, personal electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving an initial weight and a target weight of a user via a user interface of the device;

generating food intake amount and exercise instructions based on a difference between the user'"'"'s initial weight and the user'"'"'s target weight for display via the user interface;

generating with the device the user'"'"'s energy expenditure;

receiving the user'"'"'s food intake amount via the user interface;

receiving the user'"'"'s current weight via the user interface of the device;

generating with the device a change in the user'"'"'s weight; and

calibrating the device if the change in the user'"'"'s weight does not correspond to an estimate made on the basis of the user'"'"'s food intake amount and the user'"'"'s energy expenditure by eliminating impact of at least one of errors caused by the user comprising incorrect input data entered by the user, levels of input data derived therefrom, and errors appearing in default settings made by the device, thereby modifying at least one of the food intake amount and the exercise instructions to be displayed via the user interface.

19. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

taking into account the user'"'"'s heart rate measured with the device, when generating the user'"'"'s energy expenditure.

20. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

taking into account the user'"'"'s physical activity measured with the device, when generating the user'"'"'s energy expenditure.

21. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

generating with the device a long-term average of the user'"'"'s physical activity, the average being taken into account when generating the food intake amount and exercise instructions.

22. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

receiving information defining the user'"'"'s age via the user interface of the device and taking into account the user'"'"'s basal metabolic rate, determined on the basis of his age and weight, when generating his energy expenditure.

23. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

receiving information defining the user'"'"'s workload via the user interface of the device and taking the user'"'"'s workload into account when generating his energy expenditure.

24. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

generating with the device a change in the user'"'"'s weight, based on the user'"'"'s current weight and his initial weight or current weight received and stored previously.

25. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

processing the food amounts in the device in terms of their energy contents.

26. A method according to claim 18, wherein the food intake amount instructions comprise a recommended energy content of a daily food intake amount.

27. A method according to claim 18, wherein the exercise instructions comprise recommended weekly exercising energy expenditure.

28. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

determining with the device food intake amount and exercise instructions for a user whose target weight is lower than his initial weight, the instructions providing a daily food intake amount having an energy content that is lower than the user'"'"'s daily energy expenditure and exercise instructions increasing the user'"'"'s energy expenditure.

29. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

generating with the device a long-term average of the change in the user'"'"'s weight, the average being taken into account when food intake amount and exercise instructions are generated.

30. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

reminding the user via the user interface of the device to enter his current weight into the device via the user interface of the device.

31. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

informing via the user interface of the device the energy content of the food amount consumed within a predetermined period, the allowed total energy content determined for said predetermined period, and/or the difference between said total energy content and said energy content of the food amount consumed.

32. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

informing via the user interface of the device the amount of energy expended in an exercise carried out within a predetermined period, the target exercise energy expenditure set for said predetermined period, and/or the difference between said target exercise energy expenditure and said expended energy amount.

33. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

preventing with the device the energy content of the food intake amount instructions from being reduced to a level that is too low and the energy expenditure of the exercise instructions from increasing to a level that is too high.

34. A method according to claim 18, wherein the device is a part of a measuring device for measuring energy expenditure in physical exercise.