CSIRO is using online and mobile phone technology to encourage families of individuals needing to manage their weight into adopting a healthier lifestyle.
Traditional weight management service providers tend to support individuals with the advice of health professionals and peer support from others who have signed up to the program.
This Preventative Health Flagship project aims to get the family supporting the overweight individual as part of a wider move by the whole family to long-term healthy living habits.
Current activities
CSIRO is using its tailoring engine (which delivers specific information for a particular purpose) to provide personalised diet and lifestyle information. The tailoring engine will provide information more relevant to individuals and their families than the usual 'one size fits all' packages.
We are investigating ways of making this information available through online applications and mobile phone technology.
We are also exploring ways of engaging the overweight individual’s family, for example, by using an on-line portal.
This portal might provide such features as:
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diet and health information specific to the individual and their family
CSIRO is using its tailoring engine to provide personalised diet and lifestyle information.
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recipes
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fitness tips and activities for the whole family
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graphical tracking of progress towards goals
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information on the benefits of losing weight
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an online lifestyle planner.
While many existing weight management programs offer websites, our project is distinctive because it seeks to actively engage families in supporting overweight individuals and the healthy living message is tailored to, and targeted at, the family as a whole.
Outcomes
Creating a system and encouraging a supportive environment should result in increased adherence to a weight loss regime.
Encouraging the whole family to change their habits should improve their health outcomes.
Both should see reduced health care costs.
The tailoring engine and associated support system will be transferable to other health domains such as diabetes management.
Partners
Together with Verdant Health, we are exploring using mobile phone technology to enhance compliance with weight management programs.
We are also applying our tailoring engine technology to deliver customised information to those shown to be at risk of developing colorectal cancer as a concept demonstrator for the Cancer Council of Australia.
Read more about Data analysis tools to improve the health and wellbeing of Australians.
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The Tasmanian ICT Centre is jointly funded by the Australian Government through the Intelligent Island Program and CSIRO. The Intelligent Island Program is administered by the Tasmanian Department of Economic Development and Tourism.