video: MyH.E.A.L.T.H will allow users to create, log, track and improve their health and performance habits with personalized workouts and instructions, custom reminders, and personalized expert advice. view more
Credit: Pennington Biomedical Research Center Behavior Technology Laboratory: Eating Disorders & Obesity
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - U.S. soldiers, family members and veterans have had exclusive access to a smartphone app they used to improve eating, sleeping, exercising and stress, until now.
The same scientists who created the one-of-a-kind military app for the U.S. Department of Defense were given the go-ahead to complete a new consumer version for 2021 release with the support of a recent $75,000 LSU LIFT² (Leveraging Technology for Innovation) grant from the LSU Board of Supervisors.
"The app is unique in that it takes a 'whole-health' strategy in addressing performance," said Dr. Tiffany Stewart, director of the Behavior Technology Lab at Pennington Biomedical Research Center. "The app has also been tested thoroughly by roughly 15,000 soldiers -a group that has to be physically fit, and at the same time also endure significant challenges and a tremendous amount of daily stress."
The app focuses on five key goals: weight management, nutrition, physical activity, sleep and resilience. Resilience is a combination of stress management and reduction, mood and anxiety modification, and mindfulness training, which Dr. Stewart said can play a big role in overall wellness and the ability to meet key health goals.
"Honing your resilience is especially important while everyone figures out how to cope and thrive in a time of perpetual uncertainty," Dr. Stewart said.
Scientists in Dr. Stewart's lab are designing the upgraded consumer version to include:
- Sophisticated artificial intelligence technology that tailors coaching to the individuals, as well as makes it easier to use and helps consumers stick to their daily action plans.
- A community connection that puts together users with similar goals.
- Enhanced strategies for resilience
"This app distills 30 years of obesity research and military science into a powerful tool that can help anyone improve their health," said Pennington Biomedical Executive Director Dr. John Kirwan. "MyH.E.A.L.T.H. represents one of Pennington Biomedical's major goals: to take science from the lab and put it to use in the community."
MyH.E.A.L.T.H will allow users to:
- Create, log, track and improve their health and performance habits with personalized workouts and instructions, custom reminders, and personalized expert advice.
- Choose dietitian-created meal plans that fit their caloric prescription and help users stick to nutrition goals.
- Create grocery lists for upcoming meals to streamline shopping.
- Optimize sleep habits with sleep tracking. Identify patterns in sleep behavior and make changes to improve health and daily well-being.
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About the Pennington Biomedical Research Center
The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is at the forefront of medical discovery as it relates to understanding the triggers of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia. The Center conducts basic, clinical, and population research, and is affiliated with Louisiana State University. The research enterprise at Pennington Biomedical includes over 450 employees within a network of 40 clinics and research laboratories, and 13 highly specialized core service facilities. Its scientists and physician/scientists are supported by research trainees, lab technicians, nurses, dietitians, and other support personnel. Pennington Biomedical is located in state-of-the-art research facilities on a 222-acre campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. For more information, see http://www.pbrc.edu.
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
6400 Perkins Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70808