Maintaining a healthy weight can be quite a challenge for many people, especially when it comes to choosing the right meals for weight loss.
A team of researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has tackled this issue by developing a web application designed to aid meal planning and support individuals on their weight management journey, with the help of registered dietitians.
A recent study sheds light on the app’s features, its creation process, and how it is implemented.
Overview of the EMPOWER Program
The initiative aims to create an online program for weight loss that serves both preventive and therapeutic functions within clinical settings.
Manabu Nakamura, an associate professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition as well as the Division of Nutritional Sciences at the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, highlighted this ambitious goal.
Initially, the program was introduced as the Individualized Dietary Improvement Program (iDip), which included in-person meetings where participants could receive advice and feedback from registered dietitians.
Over time, this program evolved into EMPOWER, a fully online platform aimed at broadening access for users.
To evaluate its effectiveness, researchers focused on participants living in rural areas of Illinois.
Key Features of MealPlot
EMPOWER consists of three key elements: educational resources on nutrition, an online platform for meal planning and tracking progress, and personalized support from registered dietitians through online consultations.
Nakamura pointed out that while many apps focus on calorie tracking, simply creating a calorie deficit is not always a healthy approach.
Reducing calorie intake while also cutting back on protein can result in unwanted muscle and bone loss instead of fat loss.
To achieve safe and effective weight loss, individuals should aim for a higher protein intake even as they lower their overall calorie consumption.
To address this challenge, the research team created MealPlot, an interactive feature that highlights the protein and fiber content of different foods.
Unlike many dieting applications that prioritize macronutrient numbers alone, MealPlot encourages users to select foods rich in protein and fiber, helping them meet their meal goals.
This approach shifts the focus from merely counting calories to making nutrient-dense choices that support muscle preservation during weight loss.
Implementation and Future Developments
Participants can input their food choices into a chart that visualizes the protein and fiber content, helping them match their daily intake with specific targets.
This intuitive method helps users maintain a calorie deficit, as foods like lean proteins, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables tend to be more filling.
Conversely, sugary and high-fat items typically fall outside these recommended ranges and may lead to excessive calorie consumption.
What’s notable about the MealPlot method is its inclusiveness; it doesn’t ban any foods.
Instead, it promotes a balanced approach, suggesting that all foods can be enjoyed as long as the total daily intake aligns with established nutritional targets.
The MealPlot app is free for users, who can create an account to access its features.
However, researchers recommend that individuals wanting to maximize their experience work alongside a dietitian.
While self-guided users can still benefit from educational materials and the meal planning tool, achieving significant weight loss—such as over 50 or 100 pounds—often requires the insights of a qualified dietitian to establish effective routines and tackle challenges like plateaus or regaining lost weight.
The program advocates for a sustainable weight loss rate of about one pound per week, recognizing that fluctuations are common.
Regularly monitoring weight through daily check-ins is encouraged for the best tracking results.
In their study, the research team detailed the app’s development phases.
The initial version provided participants with a smart scale linked to the app, enabling automatic tracking of their weight.
In the following phase, the integration of the protein and fiber chart enhanced the meal-planning experience.
The MealPlot chart relies on comprehensive data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s food database.
However, since that database was mainly intended for scientific research, the researchers partnered with web developers to make it more user-friendly by incorporating common food names and categories.
The final version of the app includes a chat feature that allows users to connect with dietitians directly.
Additionally, dietitians have access to a specialized platform where they can monitor their clients’ weight and food logs, though this is done with the clients’ permission.
As the research team continues to refine the application, they’re aiming to roll out the complete program by spring 2026.
Source: ScienceDaily