Impact of Technology on Nutrition and Health

Introduction

Health is a vast umbrella term that has various branches. Health should be defined and viewed as a comprehensive development that includes both physical and mental health. According to the WHO, health can be defined as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” ⁽¹⁾

Considering this practical concept of health, one should constantly and diligently work towards maintaining a healthy lifestyle. In addition to physical exercises, which one is aware of, nutrition is also an important aspect of a healthy and positive life.

Technology and Nutrition

Advancements in technology are the governing factor in today’s generation. The time has come when toddlers are seen not playing with kitchen sets but engaged in gadgets. Observing this trend, researchers and medical professionals have tried to incorporate technology to enhance and improve the nutrition and diet of people globally. This concept is known as Nutrition Informatics. It is the effective retrieval, organization, storage, and optimum use of information, data, and knowledge for food-and-nutrition-related problem-solving and decision-making. ⁽¹⁰⁾

The obstacles that were being faced, especially by nutritionists and dieticians, to promote and spread the importance of proper nutrition and diet were overcome by technology and digital health. ⁽²⁾

Adolescent health is given a little more weight because it is the child’s developmental stage. Technologically driven youth benefited most from nutrition informatics. ⁽⁵⁾

There has been an increase in the use of technological innovations, especially after COVID. Social distancing during the pandemic ironically got people closer technologically. ^(2),(6)

Implementation of technology in the medical industry to be precise in nutrition may vary from using health-related applications on mobile phones to track diet and calorie intake to the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). ⁽³⁾

Technological Interventions to improve health and nutrition

Technology has indeed been a huge contributing factor in executing many interventions in the daily lives of people that would target improving their diet to incorporate balanced nutrition to enhance their health status. Digital health, mobile apps, and many wearable technologies, to name a few, have catalyzed this process and proven to be successful.⁽⁴⁾

A few of the many are discussed below.
Mobile-based platforms and smartphones are one of the most commonly used and popular interventions. This platform helps deliver nutrition-related education to its users. To gain the facilities provided by mobile phones, one doesn’t need to travel, and it is a convenient method. Many mobile applications are also available that keep track of calorie intake on a daily basis and help people maintain their diet and manage their weight with the inclusion of healthy nutrition. The ability to participate in group forums or communicate with other users is also a feature of many apps that encourage social interaction. ⁽³⁾

Text messaging tools have also been incorporated in many settings to create awareness among a particular segment of a population about including a balanced, nutritious diet to combat various vitamin and mineral deficiencies. For instance, text messages are sent to lactating mothers in a particular geographical area to maintain their good health. ⁽³⁾

The most recent technological intervention that has been seen is the application of machine learning for personalized nutrition. According to a study, the machine learning model was considered a more efficient and effective method when the correlation between a meal’s carbohydrate intake and postprandial glycemic response (PPGR) had to be studied and noted. ⁽³⁾

Advantages and Disadvantages of using technology w.r.t to Nutrition

The execution of everything brings with it a baggage of advantages and disadvantages; that is the balance maintained.

Speaking of advantages, there are many that the integration of technology and nutrition offers –

The use of the Internet makes a larger-scale collection of food and nutrient information practical with lower costs and burdens for both researchers and participants. ⁽⁴⁾
Participants can participate and avail facilities remotely as well via mail or texts, therefore this technique is very useful in remote geographical areas. ⁽⁴⁾
It can provide real-time results immediately and more efficiently. ⁽⁴⁾
Food technology can contribute to the fortification of traditional products with micronutrients, where deficiencies are important public health problems. ⁽⁶⁾
A large amount of data can be used to create machine learning-based models for personalized nutrition that can be executed in digital solutions. ⁽³⁾
Improved clinician workflow and fewer calculation errors.⁽⁸⁾

In addition to this, the use of technology in nutrition to improve health poses a few disadvantages too –

Although nutrition informatics can benefit those the fact that nutrition informatics can benefit those who are unable to travel, many backward and remote places lack sufficient access to technology, making it impossible to carry out such activities.
We now have a brand-new “eating disorder” that is spreading rapidly. To go into a little more detail about it, eating disorders can be characterized as psychological disorders, which include a very remarkably different yet abnormal eating pattern governed by disturbing emotions and feelings. ^{(7), (9)}
Nutritional monitoring can be a time-consuming task that necessitates practitioners managing multiple data sources and extensive computations. ⁽⁶⁾

Conclusion

Life is indeed a beautiful journey, and we all, by the grace of God, have been given this opportunity to grow, glow, and learn. It’s an amazing thought and intention to incorporate nutrition with that one thing without which today’s world has no value, and that is technology. It has altered the stages of food production, harvesting, and packing. Additionally, it has increased the availability and affordability of healthy food, which has made it easier for most people to live healthier lives. There is a wealth of empirical evidence highlighting its beneficial effects on health. We should be thankful for such innovations and use them to a greater extent; after all, it’s for our benefit. Let’s start using this new way of thinking about nutrition and technology and witness the magic it creates in our lives!

References