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I have been studying weight loss and nutrition for more than twenty years. In that time frame, there have been some incredible innovations in weight loss technology. While diet and exercise will always be the foundation for healthy living, new weight loss technology can, in my opinion, make the process a lot easier for you. There’s a lot of hype and misinformation online, so I’ve rounded up some of the best options that actually work and can deliver results on your weight loss journey.
Weight Loss Wearable Devices for Easy and Effective Tracking
1. Weight Loss Watch: One of the easiest ways that you can start using technology to help you lose weight is through a smartwatch or Fitness tracker. There are nearly endless options to choose from but I’m partial to Apple’s line of products. With a basic Apple Watch SE, you’ll be able to track your steps, calories, heart rate, and many other health-related metrics.
2. Smart Scale: To ensure you’re getting optimal results, use a smart scale will let you track BMI, weight, body fat, protein, muscle mass, and many other factors to help you lose weight. Etekcity’s Smart Scale will connect directly to your smartphone and track all these important metrics.
3. Healthy Heart Rate: While a smartwatch can track your heart rate, a dedicated heart rate monitor is another option if you want just a basic setup. The Polar H10 is a chest-style heart rate monitor but there are other options they can wrap around your arm, wrist or ankle. This one’s great for swimmers since it is fully waterproof!
4. Metabolism Measurements: It’s not Severence, Lumen is a real device that tracks and analyzes your metabolism through your breath. By analyzing CO₂% in your breath, Lumen can determine if you’re using mostly fat or carbs when losing weight. On average, Lumen patients lose 3% of their body fat percentage.
Apps to Keep Your Calories and Mindset in Check
1. Calorie Checker: One of the most basic and effective ways that I found to help lose weight is by tracking your calories. There are several calorie tracking apps available and many offer similar features and benefits. However, I like Cronometer because it goes into more detail regarding nutrition, goal setting, and being able to easily import your favorite foods.
2. Psychology Based Nutrition: For many years, I would overeat because I was skinny earlier in life and constantly wanted to get bigger. The simple solution was to just not eat as much but there was psychology behind my choices. Noom is different than other meal planning and weight loss apps because it goes into the psychology behind our eating habits. When combined with GLP-1 medication, Noom users achieve 1.4 times more weight loss than GLP-1s alone.
3. WeightWatchers Weight Loss: WeightWatchers may be an old name, but it’s evolved into a full telehealth provider focusing on weight loss that can connect you with a registered dietitian virtually. If you’re already using a telehealth provider, reach out to see if they offer nutritional counseling. Otherwise, WeightWatchers is an excellent option to get meal planning and nutrition support along your weight loss journey.
Smart Kitchen Gadgets That Make Meals Easier
1. Best Blender: I’m a big fan of Ninja blenders. In fact, I’ve had the same 1,000-watt Ninja blender for the last 10 years and it still works perfectly. If I were to get a new blender, I’d get a Ninja Plus blender with Auto IQ. While smoothies and healthy ice cream make dieting much easier, you can also use it as a food processor for healthy recipes!
2. Easiest Healthy Cooking Option: If you’re like me and my wife, you sometimes don’t have the energy to cook a healthy dinner. Tovala makes this issue a lot easier because it delivers fresh meals to your home. All you have to do is pop them into their smart oven, and in less than 25 minutes, your healthy weight loss dinner is ready!
Fat Reduction and Body Contouring Devices
1. Non-Invasive Fat Removal: CoolSculpting is a method of fat loss called cryolipolysis. It essentially freezes and destroys fat cells by holding a special device next to the targeted area. While results may not be instantaneous, CoolSculpting says you can expect a “20-25% reduction of stubborn fat in the treated area.”
2. Ultrasound and Radiofrequency Fat Reduction: Similar to CoolSculpting, truSculpt also uses a non-surgical device to target and destroy fat calls. However, instead of freezing, truSculpt uses radio frequency energy to destroy fat cells.
3. Infrared Therapy Devices: While not directly a weight loss device, using red light therapy like this a red light therapy belt can reduce pain and improve tissue damage recovery. Since weight training is about building muscle, improving recovery time can indirectly help you lose more weight. After all, the more muscle mass you have, the faster your metabolism will be and you’ll burn more calories at rest.
4. Easy Ab and Glute Toning: Similar to a red light therapy belt, a toning abdominal or glute belt won’t directly make your body lose weight. However, a hip and ab trainer can help stimulate muscles and improve performance. Also, more muscle tends to be more aesthetically pleasing.
GLP-1 Medication Can Suppress Your Appetite
1. Working Weight Loss Meds: There’s no denying that weight loss medications like Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro, and compounded semaglutide are helping people lose weight at record rates. If you qualify, GLP-1 receptor agonists will reduce your appetite and help you lose more weight versus diet and exercise alone. There are dozens of companies now offering GLP-1 medication, but I found Mochi to be one of the best in my GLP-1 roundup last year.
2. App-Connected Prescription Programs: To take the weight loss medication process a step further, consider using a provider with an excellent app. After reviewing multiple telehealth providers offering GLP-1 medication last year, I found that WeightWatchers Clinic had the best program that included an app. You’ll be able to get check-ins with your doctor or coach, have access to nutrition workshops and fitness classes and track your nutrition and health goals.
Use AI and VR to Improve Your Training
1. AI Personal Trainers: Whether you hate it or love it, AI technology is here to stay. However, you can use this to your advantage by using AI-powered personal trainers like the ones on Freeletics. With over 350 exercises and personalized workouts, you certainly won’t get bored!
2. Virtual Reality Celebrity Workout: If you have a virtual reality headset, you can use it to get into better shape by playing games! Nearly all VR headsets have some sort of fitness and workout program, but if you have a Meta Quest, Supernatural VR is the one to get. Want to box with Bon Jovi? How about a stretching session with fitness legend, Jane Fonda? Supernatural VR makes them both a “reality”.
Medical and Surgical Weight Loss Technology may be an Option
1. Intragastric Balloons: An intragastric balloon creates a feeling of fullness by inserting a silicone balloon filled with saline into your stomach. The more full you feel, the less likely you are to eat. Orbera has helped thousands of patients meet their weight loss goals in the past over 20 years.
2. Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG): Like the intragastric balloon, the goal is to reduce stomach volume so you get fuller with less food in your stomach. This is achieved by closing off a portion of your stomach with stitches. According to Mayo Clinic, ESG is a nonsurgical alternative to gastric sleeve surgery and similar bariatric surgery procedures.
3. Bariatric Surgery Enhancements With Robotics: While bariatric surgery has been available as a weight loss procedure for decades, technology continues to improve through the use of robotic-assisted procedures. According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, robotic surgery may improve operative times, reduce stay lengths, and lower complications compared to laparoscopic surgery.
Genetics and Biomarkers for Personalized Nutrition
1. DNA Testing for Personalized Diet Plans: DNA testing and analysis can do some amazing things, like finding a long-lost sibling. But it can also make a big impact on your nutrition and weight loss. After sending in a DNA sample, Geno Palate will tailor a personalized nutrition plan specific to your needs by analyzing 150 genetic markers. Because of unique generic variations, a DNA-based approach may be a more effective option versus following one-size-fits advice.
2. Microbiome Testing for Gut Health and Weight Loss: Weight loss may be an important factor in health, but microbiome testing through Viome can help you achieve a more total body approach. After taking one of Viome’s tests and sending them back, it will give you recommendations to improve gut health, inflammation, immune health, and many more key health areas.
Hydration and Metabolism Monitors Remind you to Hydrate
1. Smart Water Bottles: I am guilty of forgetting to drink water. Sometimes I just get busy (like right now writing this article). There are apps that can send you reminders but if you’re like me, you get enough notifications! A smart water bottle like the HidrateSpark Pro is a better option. Using its sip sensor technology, it tells you exactly how much water you’re drinking and reminds you to drink via bluetooth. It also seamlessly integrates with most your health apps.
2. Hydration and Nutrition Monitor: For a bit more hands-on approach to checking certain health metrics, consider the Vivoo test strips with the app. You can check certain nutrition metrics, hydration, ketones, pH, and more. You’ll still need to pee on a strip but it’s a small price to pay for good health!
Cool Your Jets With Sleep and Stress Management Tech
1. Smart Sleep Trackers: If you compare a bad night’s sleep to a good night, you already know the difference in how you feel. Tracking your sleep patterns through a device like the Oura Ring can help improve your sleep quality by addressing any potential issues. Maybe you’re having too much caffeine late in the day and it affects your sleep. How about anxiety that’s keeping you up? This is all information that your healthcare professional can use to help improve these issues. Also getting more sleep can help you lose more weight, according to the University of Chicago Medicine.
2. Meditation and Stress-Reduction Apps: High stress can affect cortisone levels, which may affect your digestive and nervous systems. To combat this, regular meditation can help! I’ve been meditating for over 20 years and it makes a big difference with my health and how I feel. When I don’t do it for a few months, I get stomach aches, my skin breaks out, and I put on a bit more weight. There are free meditations you can find online but I like the many options that the Headspace app provides.
