Technology Helps Residents Lose Weight & Get In Shape

Technology Helps Residents Lose 
Weight & Get In Shape

UPDATE: LANSING - The Michigan Department of Community Health recommends six mobile apps to help participants make healthy changes in their lives.

The six recommended apps are the following: MyFitnessPal, Lose It!, MyNetDiary, Fooducate, Nike Training Club and Endomondo.

In 2011, Governor Rick Snyder came up with a statewide public awareness tool called the 4x4 tool to help reduce obesity. It involves 4 health measures and 4 healthy behaviors.

It says to improve health there are 4 key health measures closely tied to chronic diseases including BMI (body mass index), blood pressure, cholesterol level and blood sugar (glucose) level. You should also practice 4 key healthy behaviors including maintaining a healthy diet, engaging in regular exercise, avoiding tobacco use and getting an annual physical examination.

The MDCH then held a summit to gather all recommendations on what people should do to reduce weight.

Since the department began its MI Healthier Tomorrow campaign in January, there has been great comments on their Facebook page from people in the community supporting and helping each other.

There are many useful apps both mobile and on the web.

"If they are watching their calories well but they need to change up their workout, there is a lot of really good apps out there for what people can do to change that up to get physical activity into their life," said MDCH Public Information Officer, Angela Minicuci.

The department posts motivational quotes on to the Facebook page, and sends out emails with suggestions for example asking, "have you been sitting at your desk all day? Maybe it’s time for a walk!"

ORIGINAL STORY: LANSING - MI Healthier Tomorrow pledge participants received an email of links to apps for assistance with weight loss.

Additional Resources

Meridian Weather