Abstract:
A food and exercise calculating aid enables an individual to quickly determine how much of a selected exercise is necessary to burn off the calories consumed by a selected food item. Nutritional information for various food items and metabolic equivalent information for various exercises are stored in memories. The user accesses the memories for selected foods and exercises, as well as for the user&#39;s weight, and the aid calculates the exercise time duration necessary for the selected food.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Affecting nearly seventeen million Americans, type-2 diabetes is the most prevalent form of diabetes mellitus. There are many precipitating factors involved in the cause of type-2 diabetes, but more often than not, overeating, inactivity, and consumption of unhealthy foods are the main causes of the disease. Since there is no present cure for diabetes, it becomes imperative that type-2 diabetics closely monitor their food intake, and balance this intake with exercise and physical activity in order to maintain glucose levels that are as close to normal as possible. Planning a healthy, balanced diet and exercising regularly can significantly improve the life of a person dealing with type-2 diabetes. The present invention is designed to assist in this process. 
   BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
   On a daily basis, type-2 diabetics are faced with monitoring their food intake in relation to exercise activity. Although there are current diet calculators available to display the nutritional makeup of different foods, none are able to relate this nutritional data to the amount of physical activity needed to compensate for them, and burn them off. Thus, while these prior calculators can illustrate the nutritional value of certain food items, they cannot convert these values into terms that are meaningful to the user, i.e., the amount of time they will need to dedicate to exercising in order to “burn off” this food item if they are to eat it. The present invention puts the nutritional information into more concrete terms for the user. Knowing that a slice of pizza will take 36 minutes of aerobic activity to burn off is much more valuable than simply knowing that it contains 190 calories. Having this information available before eating the pizza helps an individual to better understand the actual consequences of eating it. Type-2 diabetics need to be able to access this information easily and effortlessly, on a regular basis, so that they can see the consequences of consuming various types of foods in terms of the effects on their diet and weight. Of course, all individuals, whether diabetic or not, would benefit from knowing how much exercise would be required to compensate for the food they eat in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, proper weight, and fitness level. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The food and exercise calculating aid according to the invention includes a memory for storing nutritional information for a variety of food items and metabolic equivalent information for a variety of exercises. A controller is connected with the memory to control the selection of information to be obtained from the memory. A calculator is connected with the memory in order to calculate an exercise duration time necessary to bum the calories of a selected food item while performing the selected exercise. A display is connected with the memory and with the calculator to display the selected nutritional and metabolic equivalent information and the calculated exercise duration time. 
   The memory preferably comprises three portions or three separate memories. The first memory stores the nutritional information. The second memory stores the metabolic equivalent information. The third memory stores weight information which is also a factor used by the calculator for calculating the exercise duration time. 
   The invention also relates to an exercise calculation method for an individual. According to the method, a food item to be consumed is selected. Next, an exercise to be performed is selected. The weight of the individual is then selected following which the duration of the selected exercise is calculated for burning the calories of the selected food item for the individual. The calculation is according to the formula
 
 T =kcal/ MET× 3.5 ×W/ 200
 
where T is the exercise time, in minutes; kcal is the number of kilocalories for the selected food item; MET is the metabolic equivalent for the selected exercise; and W is the selected weight of the individual, in kilograms.
 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification when viewed in the light of the accompanying drawing, in which: 
       FIGS. 1-7  are plan views, respectively, of the food and exercise calculating aid according to the invention showing the information displayed to an individual during the calculation process shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a block diagram of the sequence of steps for calculating an exercise duration according to the invention; and 
       FIG. 9  is a block diagram of the food and exercise calculating aid according to the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS. 1-7  show the food and exercise calculating aid  2  according to the invention. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the calculating aid includes a housing  4  including a hinged cover  6  within which instructions  8  for operating the calculating aid are provided. On the face of the housing is a display  10 , an on-off switch  12 , scrolling buttons  14 , a selector switch  16 , and a switch  18  for going back to a previous menu. As will be developed below,  FIGS. 2-8  illustrate the different information displayed on the display  10  during the operation of the calculating aid. 
   In  FIG. 8  is shown the method steps for operating the calculating aid and  FIG. 9  is a block diagram showing the components of the calculating aid. The input selector  20  includes the scroll, selector and back buttons shown in FIG.  1 . It is used to select from the choices shown on the display  10  for various food items, exercises, and weights. A controller  22  controls which of the memories  24 ,  26 ,  28  is activated. The first memory  24  contains nutritional information for various foods. The foods are arranged by food groups within the memory  24 . The second memory  26  has stored therein various exercises and the metabolic equivalents for each. The metabolic equivalent is a function of the exertion required by a particular exercise. An explanation thereof and sample metabolic equivalents for various exercises are available from the American College of Sports Medicine Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescriptions (Sixth Edition, 2000). The third memory  28  contains a plurality of weight ranges. 
   A suitable controller is the SPL 130A 128K-byte LCD controller and a suitable display is the ST 2101C dot matrix LCD driver. 
   The memories are connected with the display  10  to display information for a selected food, exercise and weight. A calculator  30  is connected between the memories and the display and calculates the duration of exercise time required to bum off the calories of a selected food using a selected exercise for a person of the selected weight. 
   Once the aid is activated, the display prompts the selection of a food group as shown in FIG.  2 . By operating the scroll buttons  14 , numerous food groups are displayed. Sample food groups are displayed in Table I. 
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
           
         
             
               TABLE I 
             
             
                 
             
             
               Food Groups 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Baked Products 
             
             
                 
               Beverages 
             
             
                 
               Cereals 
             
             
                 
               Dairy 
             
             
                 
               Desserts 
             
             
                 
               Restaurants 
             
             
                 
               Fruits 
             
             
                 
               Meals (prepared) 
             
             
                 
               Meats 
             
             
                 
               Seafood 
             
             
                 
               Snacks 
             
             
                 
               Vegetables 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   When the desired food group is displayed and highlighted, the select button is operated and the next menu is displayed. The menu contains a list of food items for a selected group. Thus, if “Baked Products” was selected from the listed groups of  FIG. 2 , a list of food items from the memory  24  is displayed as shown in FIG.  3 . 
   Tables II-VIII contain sample food items for various food groups. 
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
           
         
             
               TABLE II 
             
             
                 
             
             
               Baked Products 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Bagels 
             
             
                 
               Biscuits 
             
             
                 
               Bread 
             
             
                 
               Bread stuffing 
             
             
                 
               Cake 
             
             
                 
               Cookies 
             
             
                 
               Crackers 
             
             
                 
               Croissants 
             
             
                 
               Danish pastry 
             
             
                 
               Doughnuts 
             
             
                 
               English Muffins 
             
             
                 
               Muffins 
             
             
                 
               Pancakes 
             
             
                 
               Pie (and pie crust) 
             
             
                 
               Sweet rolls 
             
             
                 
               Toaster pastries 
             
             
                 
               Tortillas 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
           
         
             
               TABLE III 
             
             
                 
             
             
               Cereals 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Kelloggs 
             
             
                 
               Quaker 
             
             
                 
               General Mills 
             
             
                 
               Malt-O-Meal 
             
             
                 
               Cream of Wheat (also Cream of Rice) 
             
             
                 
               Post (Kraft) 
             
             
                 
               Other (Heartland Natural Cereal, Maypo, Ralson, 
             
             
                 
               Wheatena, Maltex, Roman Meal, etc.) 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
           
         
             
               TABLE IV 
             
             
                 
             
             
               Restaurants 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Arby&#39;s 
             
             
                 
               Boston Market 
             
             
                 
               Bruegger&#39;s Bagels 
             
             
                 
               Burger King 
             
             
                 
               Dairy Queen 
             
             
                 
               Denny&#39;s 
             
             
                 
               KFC 
             
             
                 
               Krispy Kreme 
             
             
                 
               Leeann Chinn 
             
             
                 
               McDonalds 
             
             
                 
               Olive Garden 
             
             
                 
               Pizza Hut 
             
             
                 
               Red Lobster 
             
             
                 
               Subway 
             
             
                 
               Taco Bell 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
           
         
             
               TABLE V 
             
             
                 
             
             
               Fruits and Fruit Juices 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Avocados 
             
             
                 
               Apples and apple products (apple juice, applesauce) 
             
             
                 
               Apricots 
             
             
                 
               Bananas 
             
             
                 
               Berries (blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, 
             
             
                 
               strawberries, raspberries) 
             
             
                 
               Cherries 
             
             
                 
               Fruit salad and fruit cocktails 
             
             
                 
               Grapefruit and grapefruit juice 
             
             
                 
               Grapes and grape juice 
             
             
                 
               Melons 
             
             
                 
               Oranges and tangerines, fruits and juices 
             
             
                 
               Peaches 
             
             
                 
               Pears 
             
             
                 
               Pineapple 
             
             
                 
               Prunes and prune juice 
             
             
                 
               Other (kiwi fruit, currants, rhubarb) 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
           
         
             
               TABLE VI 
             
             
                 
             
             
               Meals (prepared) 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Banquet 
             
             
                 
               Budget Gourmet 
             
             
                 
               Chef Boyardee 
             
             
                 
               Hormel 
             
             
                 
               Hot Pockets 
             
             
                 
               Kraft 
             
             
                 
               Marie Callender&#39;s 
             
             
                 
               Nestle, Chef-Mate 
             
             
                 
               Stouffers 
             
             
                 
               Sunny Fresh 
             
             
                 
               Weight Watchers 
             
             
                 
               Worthington Foods/Morningstar Farms 
             
             
                 
               Other (Jimmy Dean, Nalley, Red Baron, Tyson, 
             
             
                 
               Stagg, etc.) 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
           
         
             
               TABLE VII 
             
             
                 
             
             
               Desserts 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Candies, Hershey 
             
             
                 
               Candies, M&amp;M Mars 
             
             
                 
               Candies, Nestle 
             
             
                 
               Candies, other 
             
             
                 
               Frostings 
             
             
                 
               Frozen desserts 
             
             
                 
               Gelatins 
             
             
                 
               Gum 
             
             
                 
               Honey and molasses 
             
             
                 
               Jams and jellies (including marmalade and fruit butters) 
             
             
                 
               Puddings, custards and flan 
             
             
                 
               Syrups 
             
             
                 
               Toppings 
             
             
                 
               Other (sugar, sweeteners, pie filling, fruit leather, etc.) 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
           
         
             
               TABLE VIII 
             
             
                 
             
             
               Snacks 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Fruit snacks and Fruit Roll-Ups 
             
             
                 
               Granola bars (including Kudos) 
             
             
                 
               Popcorn 
             
             
                 
               Potato chips 
             
             
                 
               Pretzels (including Combos) 
             
             
                 
               Rice cakes 
             
             
                 
               Tortilla chips 
             
             
                 
               Trail mix 
             
             
                 
               Other (beef jerky, corn-based items, Corn Nuts, Chex 
             
             
                 
               Mix, Sesame Sticks, Nutri-Grain bars, Rice Krispie 
             
             
                 
               Treats, etc.) 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   The above tables contain only representative samples of food groups and items. Any number of additional items may be included and the grouping of items can be altered as desired. 
   When the desired food item is displayed (FIG.  3 ), the select button is activated to obtain from the food memory  24  the nutritional information for the item. The nutritional information is automatically displayed on the display  10  as shown in FIG.  4  and sent to the calculator  30 . The nutritional information includes calories per serving, carbohydrates (in grams), carbohydrate choices, fats (in grams), and proteins (in grams). The typical portion or serving size is also provided. The carbohydrate choices are automatically calculated by the calculator  30  based on the number of grams of carbohydrates in the food item using the following formula:
 
Carbohydrate Choices=Carbohydrates (grams)÷15
 
   After the nutritional information has been displayed, the selector button is activated and the controller  22  accesses the second memory  26  to display various exercises as shown in FIG.  5 . Examples of exercises are set forth in table IX. 
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
           
         
             
               TABLE IX 
             
             
                 
             
             
               Exercises 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Aerobics 
             
             
                 
               Basketball 
             
             
                 
               Bicycling (5.5 mph) 
             
             
                 
               Bicycling (13 mph) 
             
             
                 
               Bowling 
             
             
                 
               Dancing 
             
             
                 
               Gardening 
             
             
                 
               Golfing 
             
             
                 
               Jogging (5.5 mph) 
             
             
                 
               Jogging (8 mph) 
             
             
                 
               Martial/kickbox 
             
             
                 
               Mowing lawn 
             
             
                 
               Shoveling snow 
             
             
                 
               Tennis/handball 
             
             
                 
               Walking (2 mph) 
             
             
                 
               Walking (4 mph) 
             
             
                 
               Weightlifting 
             
             
                 
               Yoga/stretching 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   The user scrolls through the exercise menu using the scroll buttons  14  until the desired exercise is highlighted. Activation of the select button  16  sends metabolic equivalent information for the selected exercise to the calculator  30 . 
   Next, the weight range information from the third memory  28  is displayed on the display  10  as shown in FIG.  6 . The weight ranges are scrolled by operation of scroll buttons  14  until the weight range for the user is displayed. Operation of the select button sends the weight range information to the calculator  30 . 
   The calculator  30  calculates an exercise duration time necessary for the individual to bum off the calories associated with the selected food item by performing the selected exercise using the formula
 
 T =kcal/ MET× 3.5 ×W/ 200
 
where T is the exercise time in minutes, kcal is the number of kilocalories for the selected food item, MET is the metabolic equivalent for the selected exercise and W is the selected weight, in kilograms, of the individual. The calculated duration time for the exercise is displayed on the display as shown in FIG.  7 .
 
   A less accurate, but still valuable, calculation of the exercise duration time can be obtained by omitting the weight factor from the equation or by using a default value such as 150 pounds 
   The diet and exercise calculator according to the invention benefits many individuals involved in caring for those with type-2 diabetes as well as the patients themselves. Family members of diabetics, or those who are at risk of developing type-2 diabetes would benefit from the calculator as well. Diabetic educators and physicians can use the product to help educate and inform those at risk to help them change their unhealthy habits before they actually develop the disease. The general public would also find the calculator to be useful in their attempts to live a healthy lifestyle. The diet and exercise calculator allows people to view the consequences of eating certain FDA categorized foods prior to consumption, and relate this to a specific physical activity. The calculator displays the nutritional information and calculates the amount to time it will take, while performing a selected activity, to bum off the fat and calories of a selected food item. 
   While the preferred forms and embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modification may be made without deviating from the inventive concepts set forth above.