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  
       [0001]     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  
       [0002]     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  
       [0003]     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.  
         [0004]     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.  
         [0005]     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  
       [0007]     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:  
         [0008]      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 ;  
         [0009]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram of the sequence of steps for calculating an exercise duration according to the invention; and  
         [0010]      FIG. 9  is a block diagram of the food and exercise calculating aid according to the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0011]      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.  
         [0012]     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.  
         [0013]     A suitable controller is the SPL 130A 128K-byte LCD controller and a suitable display is the ST 2101 C dot matrix LCD driver.  
         [0014]     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.  
         [0015]     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                      
 
         [0016]     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 .  
         [0017]     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                      
 
         [0018]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                 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.) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0019]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                 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 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0020]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                 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) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0021]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                 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.) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0022]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                 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.) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0023]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                 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.) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0024]     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.  
         [0025]     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
 
         [0026]     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                      
 
         [0027]     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 .  
         [0028]     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 .  
         [0029]     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 . 
 
         [0031]     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  
         [0032]     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.  
         [0033]     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.