Mobile phone mentor for weight management

The Tasmanian ICT Centre in Hobart was the location for the launch of an exciting new mobile phone technology development by CSIRO and Verdant Health Pty Ltd.

The Weight Management Mentor, a consumer mentoring and support system developed by researchers from the Preventative Health Flagship (PHF), Tasmanian ICT Centre and Verdant Health Pty Ltd, was launched by Tasmanian Deputy Premier Lara Giddings on 19 May.

The Weight Management Mentor uses mobile phone technology to record a person’s weight management and lifestyle experiences in real time. The technology polls the participant at key times, requesting information on diet, activity and other lifestyle and well-being indicators. This new technology has a significant advantage over other methods of recording data, including the consumer needing to recall and note data at the end of everyday.

The Weight Management Mentor provides a supportive environment to consumers of pharmacy-based weight management programs rather than a prescriptive 'tough love' approach', says Dipak Bhandari, Project Leader from PHF. 'It empowers these consumers through self monitoring and regular feedback from health professionals.'

Obesity and Health Theme Leader with PHF, Lance Macaulay attended the launch and adds 'this technology will add value to a number of programs within the Diet and Lifestyle stream and increase their impact'.

At the launch Deputy Premier Giddings said of the technology, that mobile phone based solutions are 'breaking down the barriers for access to health information and services and support'.

Richard Head, Director of the Preventative Health Flagship agrees and says 'The technology coming out of the ICT centre is exciting, and it is through collaborations with our research partners in projects such as the Weight Management Mentor that we can successfully help to reduce the obesity burden and its economic consequences on the community'.