It may seem obvious, but achieving health goals or improving a health condition requires some skin in the game from us. For many, that’s often the hardest thing to maintain. All our reasons, objections or opinions about what’s going on or what’s possible can get in the way.
Fortunately there are some pretty cool new tools and technologies to make paying attention a little bit easier.
A new health tracking app called Nudge lets users score their health behaviors. Nudge leads the charge in apps that sync data from the most popular health tracker apps and wearables including the popular MapMyFitness, Moves, RunKeeper, Strava, Up by Jawbone and FitBit.
This data along with information input by the user produces a Nudge Factor, a score based on Nudge’s evidence-proven algorithm gleaned from multiple studies including United States Department of Agriculture, Center of Disease Control and World Health Organization as well as applied research from an in-house advisory team of sports and health professionals.
Similar to a Klout score for social media influencers, the Nudge Factor ranges from 1 to 110. with 110 representing optimal health. The score is broken down into four categories based on recommended daily consumption of fruits and vegetables, hours of sleep, minutes of exercise and intake of water.
Nudge allows users to connect with others through contacts, social media and Nudge clubs including Outdoor Adventure, Recipe Network, Runners’ Club, Stress Less and Weight Loss. Through clubs users can interact with one another to ask questions and offer motivation, support and healthful tips. Users can also join as circles of friends, coworkers and classmates and participate in friendly competition for the highest Nudge Factor.
Research shows the feasibility of using social networks for weight loss goals and that when others are involved in a supportive role, health outcomes are more likely to be achieved. Nudge is available for free in the iTunes App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nudge-yourself/id605363055?mt=8.
See also: Are You Hard Wired For Exercise?
For those who simply can’t get enough data to measure, Mimo Baby, has a set of three baby bodysuits that includes a device used to measure respiration, skin temperature and body position. The product sends the vital-sign information to a smartphone. There’s also a smart sock made by startup Owlet Baby Care Inc. that senses a baby’s oxygen saturation and heart rate.
While having lots of data at our fingertips can be helpful in taking appropriate actions toward health goals, often ‘knowing’ is the booby prize. After all, everybody already knows how to lose weight: diet and exercise. If knowing made the difference, we’d all be thinner, wouldn’t we? The take away here is that informed action can be a powerful tool to achieve
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