A&D’s Bluetooth Scale Helps Children Become Healthier A&D


	September 2007
	A&D's Bluetooth Scale Helps Children Become Healthier

This editorial website includes personal
observations by Masa Eto on an array of topics,
from world affairs to business. Mr. Eto is the
managing executive officer of the International Division at A&D Company Ltd.

"Hi Nancy! Since starting your weight chart 15 days ago, you have lost 3.9 lb. Your weight today is 52.0 lb from your weight loss goal of 100.0 lb. If you continue to lose weight at your chosen rate of 2.0 lb per week, you will reach your goal weight in 26 weeks," said the PE teacher in a message sent via the Internet to a student enrolled in the Weigh2Rock System. School nurses and PE teachers interact with thousands of overweight kids via the weigh2rock.com website acting as online mentors via the site.

The Weigh2Rock System was created by eHealth International, Inc. a company incorporated in Kirkland, Washington in the US seven years ago as a health care service provider using the Internet. This particular service "Weigh2Rock" has been created to target schoolchildren who want to lose or need to lose weight and learn healthier eating habits and useful exercises. Bob Pretlow, MD and the President & CEO of this company says it has generated a lot of interest from schools and communities that are concerned about the spread of obesity among children. A number of school districts have enrolled with their service and have already been using it for some time.

And here's how it works.

A student goes to a room, which the school has designated as the e-care area and using his/her personal password, logs into their weight data chart in the eRoom of the Weigh2Rock System. Then he/she goes into the nearby bathroom and steps onto the scale that transmits weight data to a computer. The student then goes back to the computer in the e-care area, verifies the transmitted data, sends it along with his/her comments, and possibly a pedometer reading, to their personal website chart.

The provider who is a PE teacher or school nurse later reviews the data and posts comments and messages of support in the child's eRoom.

A child can also weigh and send data from home, either manually or using a scale connected to their home PC.

The most important part of this system is the involvement of PE teachers and school nurses, which incorporates a supportive element backed by the community and/or school district. Both the PE teachers and nurses work as mentors to children and they receive training and share information periodically. They organize special fun events where they recruit children for the program. Fees from the parents of participating children as well as funds from the school district fund the program.


A student logging into her chart in the e-care area		A student weighing herself on the UC-321BT in the bathroom.		A student weighing herself at home

Obesity is currently one of the main issues which needs to be tackled in the US. Six in 10 adult Americans are overweight and 31 percent are obese, according to a 2004 tally by the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, and this figure is rising. Even more alarming is the fact that obesity is spreading among children. According to World Health Organization figures, obesity among youngsters aged two to four almost doubled between 1989 and 1998. Among those aged six to 15, obesity rates trebled from 5% to 16% between 1990 and 2001. Obesity is spreading so fast that there are some researchers who even suggest that gut bacteria infections account for some obesity cases.

Dr. William Klish, Co-chairman of the Seminar on Overweight in Childhood at the American Academy of Pediatrics Annual Meeting in October 2001 remarked, "Because of the current overweight epidemic in children and teens, for the first time in history, today's kids will not live as long as their parents."

The Mayo Clinic also talks about childhood obesity and recommends making weight loss and dietary improvements a family affair. It says children can't change their exercise and eating habits by themselves. They need the help and support of their families and other caregivers. The Mayo Clinic says that solving this problem should start in the home.

When I phoned Bob from eHealth International, he said that the demand for his service is constantly on the rise and that our UC-321 with Bluetooth connectivity is the most suited for this application. His reply to my question of "Why Bluetooth?" was that he views privacy as an important factor for a child who does not want anyone else peeking at his or her weight results. Therefore the scale has to be placed in an isolated room or bathroom while the computer is located elsewhere such as in the school nurses room. Furthermore, a wire running through hallways could be dangerous so I was very happy to hear that our UC-321 is the most reliable and the safest choice, because of its wireless connectivity.

A healthy diet is something children pick up early in their lives. There is a saying in Japan, "Mitsugo no Tamashii Hyakumade", which means the soul or habit of a 3 year old child persists till he becomes a hundred years old. So eating habits remain relatively similar throughout one's lifetime, however the tool provided by Weigh2Rock can help not only children themselves but parents and teachers at school and in the community. The initiative must start at school but the Weigh2Rock System makes it a community affair, which eventually becomes a family matter so that healthy eating as well as healthy dieting starts in the home as the Mayo Clinic pointed out. And we are very happy to know that our UC-321 with Bluetooth can help this initiative.

You may address any comments concerning this editorial by email to Mr. Eto