As technology continues to develop rapidly, the incidence of obesity also continues to climb at an alarming rate. The increase in available technology is thought to be a contributor in the obesogenic environment, yet at the same time technology can also be used to intervene and improve health and health behaviors. This article reviews the components of effective weight management programs and the novel role that technology, such as SMS, websites, and smartphone apps, is playing to improve the success of such programs. Use of these modern technologies can now allow for individualized treatment recommendations to be delivered to individuals remotely, increased self-monitoring/tracking of health-related data, broader and more rapid dissemination of health information/recommendations, and increased patient-dietician/physician contact. The use of technology in weight management programs results in improved long-term weight management, and in most cases improved cost-effectiveness. Rather than blaming increased food intake and sedentary lifestyle on technology, rapidly developing and innovative technologies should be used to our advantage and deployed to combat the obesity epidemic.

Background Infant formula is a major source of nutrition for infants with over half of all infants in the United States consuming infant formula exclusively or in combination with breast milk. The energy in infant powdered formula is derived from the powder and not the water making it necessary to develop methods that can accurately estimate the amount of powder used prior to reconstitution. Objective To assess the use of the Remote Food Photography Method (RFPM) to accurately estimate the weight of infant powdered formula before reconstitution among the standard serving sizes. Methods For each serving size (1-scoop, 2-scoop, 3-scoop, and 4-scoop), a set of seven test bottles and photographs were prepared including the recommended gram weight of powdered formula of the respective serving size by the manufacturer, three bottles and photographs containing 15%, 10%, and 5% less powdered formula than recommended, and three bottles and photographs containing 5%, 10%, and 15% more powdered formula than recommended (n=28). Ratio estimates of the test photographs as compared to standard photographs were obtained using standard RFPM analysis procedures. The ratio estimates and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) data tables were used to generate food and nutrient information to provide the RFPM estimates. Statistical Analyses Performed Equivalence testing using the two one-sided t- test (TOST) approach was used to determine equivalence between the actual gram weights and the RFPM estimated weights for all samples, within each serving size, and within under-prepared and over-prepared bottles. Results For all bottles, the gram weights estimated by the RFPM were within 5% equivalence bounds with a slight under-estimation of 0.05 g (90% CI [−0.49, 0.40]; p<0.001) and mean percent error ranging between 0.32% and 1.58% among the four serving sizes. Conclusion The maximum observed mean error was an overestimation of 1.58% of powdered formula by the RFPM under controlled laboratory conditions indicating that the RFPM accurately estimated infant powdered formula.

Background: Accurate methods of assessing food intake in infants are needed to assess the relationship between infant feeding practices and the risk of childhood obesity. Current methods are either subjective or have limited ability for widespread use beyond clinical research settings due to cost and high burden. Objective: To assess the accuracy of the Remote Food Photography Method (RFPM), a novel food intake assessment method, to estimate infant formula as compared to the gold standard, the directly weighed foods method. Design: Fifty‐three adults were recruited to prepare infant formula bottles and use the RFPM to capture photographs of infant formula at different stages of bottle preparation (dry powdered formula, liquid prepared formula, and liquid waste). Gram weights were measured by the RFPM and the directly weighed foods method with the aim of the RFPM to estimate food intake within 10% of the directly wegihed foods method. The effects of trial number and caregiver status on the preparation of dry powdered formula and liquid prepared formula were also examined. Results: The RFPM estimated liquid formula intake within 10% of the directly weighed foods method in 2 fluid ounce, 4 fluid ounce, and 6 fluid ounce bottles by ‐4.1 ± 14.4% (P<0.0001), 2.8 ± 16.3% (P=0.1550), and 7.0 ± 12.4% (P<0.0001), respectively. The RFPM estimated liquid formula intake by 14.0 ± 10.3% (P<0.0001) in 8 fluid ounce bottles. There were no significant differences for the effects of trial number and caregiver status on infant formula preparation except for a significant main effect of caregiver status on the preparation of dry powdered formula of 2 fluid ounce bottles (P=0.05). Conclusion: Accuracy of the RFPM is comparable to other objective methods without excess cost or burden. The RFPM is therefore a viable method for measuring infant formula intake in infants with potential for widespread use in research and clinical practice.