Introduction – a modern approach to obesity control

It’s no secret that the prevalence of obesity is on the rise – and at an alarming rate. In fact, the prevalence of overweight and obese adults is expected to increase to 46 percent by 2025, a four percent increase since 2020.  But how did we get here?

Several things have led to this uptick in obesity, but major contributors include barriers to treatment access and healthy living. Factors like limited healthy and affordable food options, restricted mobility, and lack of healthcare access can increase one’s likelihood of unhealthy weight gain.

How do we combat obesity if so many can’t access proper care? The answer is actually right in front of you, on your smartphone. Our smartphones can gather key health metrics instantly and continuously, providing valuable insights to patients. In doing so, we can overcome traditional barriers to weight loss and strive towards healthier living. 

Metrics to monitor

Now, we know that our smartphones can be a valuable tool in tracking metrics related to weight. But which are most important in obesity management? Here are some insights we find most useful:

  • BMI. Body mass index (BMI) is a standard indicator of weight classification (underweight, normal, overweight, obese). Because BMI accounts for weight and height, traditional BMI calculations require measuring height and weight first and then manually inputting these numbers.

  • Weight-to-height ratio. The weight-to-height ratio helps to estimate one’s risk of obesity-related conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. It assesses abdominal fat distribution through the ratio of waist circumference to height.

  • Body fat percentage. Body fat percentage represents the proportion of fat in the body relative to total body weight. Excess fat increases one’s risk of obesity-related conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Thus, body fat percentage is essential to understanding overall health and fitness.

  • Basal metabolic rate. Believe it or not, the body uses calories and energy even at rest, particularly for breathing and circulation. Someone’s basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the calories their body needs at rest for these essential functions. Influenced by factors like age, gender, weight, and muscle mass, a BMR value helps guide daily calorie requirements for weight management.

  • Total daily energy expenditure. Total daily energy expenditure refers to total daily calorie usage. This includes calories used during BMR, physical activity, digestion, and other functions. Age, gender, weight, muscle mass, and activity levels influence energy expenditure.

  • A body shape index (ABSI). ABSI estimates obesity-related health risks by considering waist circumference, weight, height, and body fat distribution. It is beneficial for identifying risks in individuals who have high abdominal fat, providing a clearer picture of cardiovascular and metabolic health.

  • Conicity index (CI). The conicity index is a key indicator of body fat distribution, specifically abdominal obesity. It considers waist circumference, weight, and height within its calculation. CI is particularly useful for identifying visceral fat, which is strongly linked to metabolic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases.

  • Body roundness index. Body roundness index is another measurement used for body fat distribution. It focuses on abdominal fat by considering waist circumference and height. Body roundness index helps us understand fat distribution and provides valuable insights into cardiovascular risk and metabolic health.

While healthcare providers typically perform these calculations and estimations at an office visit, Shen AI can provide these key insights anytime and anywhere. For example, Shen AI can provide BMI readings instantly and with zero manual input. With a face scan alone, it can estimate a patient’s BMI and calculate all the other metrics mentioned above.

obesity isn't static

Aside from the sheer convenience of AI health insights, it can also enhance our understanding of obesity. Obesity isn’t static – the body is constantly changing, especially when it comes to weight gain and loss. Thus, one-time measurements are insufficient to understanding health. Instead, regular monitoring is essential.

Unlike traditional static measurements, continuous monitoring accounts for fluctuations throughout the body. These can include changes to metabolic rate, weight distribution, and fat percentage. Understanding these trends and how they change over time can be infinitely more insightful than single readings alone.

Continuous monitoring is impossible with periodic clinic visits – and that’s where AI comes in. With solutions like Shen AI, users get daily insights, not just annual checkups, which can support long-term weight management.

The link between obesity and chronic disease

Tracking these health metrics can provide essential information for understanding weight and body composition. Additionally, tracking several metrics together can be particularly useful. For example, a simple, standalone BMI calculation may not be the best metric to take as it does not consider body composition. Getting insights into other measurements, such as body fat percentage or conicity index, can provide even greater detail into overall wellness.

Knowing these indicators allows users to adjust their diet, lifestyle, and medical choices to fit their body’s individual needs and circumstances. In doing so – individuals can optimize outcomes and lose weight more effectively. However, the negative impact of obesity extends beyond just excess weight. Being overweight or obese can lead to a multitude of health issues and comorbidities, including:

  • Hypertension. Hypertension refers to high blood pressure, which can cause cardiovascular disease, stroke, chronic kidney disease, and more in the long term.

  • Cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease encompasses conditions like coronary artery disease (CAD), heart failure, stroke, hypertension, and more.

  • Type 2 diabetes. With type 2 diabetes, high blood sugar levels puts patients at risk for cardiovascular, nerve, and kidney problems.

  • Non-alcoholic fatty liver. Obesity is closely linked to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) due to the buildup of excess fat.

  • Metabolic disorders. Obesity can lead to other metabolic disorders, like insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). 

Monitoring health metrics using AI allows Shen’s customers to shift from being reactive about health to being proactive. Historically, patients consult their providers only when they start experiencing symptoms of a disease that has already developed. For example, an obese patient might present at their doctor’s office with frequent urination and increased blood sugar levels, indicating they have type 2 diabetes. But what if we caught diabetes before it ever developed?

Frequent monitoring of metrics like body weight, fat percentage, and metabolic rate can drive better interventions and prevent disease altogether. AI can be integral to preventative care, where we can detect disease early. In doing so, users can make lifestyle adjustments to avoid long-term obesity risks like those mentioned above.

measure more than BMI

Practical applications of AI-based health checks for weight management

The benefits of AI-driven health assessments are clear, and integrating these technologies into health and fitness applications will be the future of weight management. Thankfully, companies like Shen AI are doing just that – providing a white-label SDK plug-and-play solution for wellness, healthcare, and insurance apps.

You can easily integrate Shen AI technology into any mobile or web application. In doing so, Shen AI provides a seamless user experience and more reliability, with the ability to adapt to an array of applications and use cases. Additionally, Shen AI can augment your business through AI-based health checks, offering:

  • Personalized insights. For individuals trying to lose or gain weight in a healthy way, they can monitor key indicators of health and weight. In doing so, patients can track their progress and see what works for them and what doesn’t.

  • Data for healthcare professionals and obesity clinics. Healthcare providers can easily track patients’ progress through continuous monitoring. Not only that, but Shen AI allows for remote monitoring, meaning patients don’t need an office visit.

  • Easy integration into wellness and fitness mobile and web applications.

 

Wrap up

Knowing the health risks of being overweight and obese, it is essential to actively work towards losing weight in a healthy way. This can be difficult because of access issues and a reactive approach to healthcare. Artificial intelligence, however, provides an opportunity for individualized health monitoring. Shen AI, for example, can:

  • Provide key health metrics instantly with a face scan, including BMI, weight-to-height ratio, body fat percentage, and basal metabolic rate

  • Allow for continuous monitoring of health indicators as a user’s body changes on their weight loss journey

  • Increase accessibility to healthcare through remote monitoring for healthcare professionals and obesity clinics

  • Integrate seamlessly into fitness and wellness applications, adapting to a variety of use cases

Interested in getting started with Shen AI for obesity control? Test AI health monitoring with a 1-minute face scan.