An Evaluation on How Keeping a Food Diary Can Support Patients to Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle Particularly in Losing Weight
Introduction
As a MPharm student who is working towards a career as a qualified pharmacist, I realised that I have an important role in promoting healthy lifestyle to the community since it is one of the essential services provided under NHS Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (PSNC, 2007). In the UK, there was an obvious increase in the percentage of adults that were obese. In 1993, it was only at 13.2%. However, in 2013, it rose to 26.0% in for men, while for women, it increases from 16.4% to 23.8%. The proportions that were overweight including obese increased from 57.6% to 67.1% in men and from 48.6% to 57.2% …show more content…
It was divided into three phase. During the first meeting, which is the Phase 1, we measured our own weight using the electronic weighing scale, height using the stadiometer, body fat using the monitor and using measuring tape to measure our hip and waist circumference. Besides that, we also calculated our body mass index (BMI) and basal metabolic rate (BMR). We were required to complete a personal food and activities diary for a week. In our group of four, I have decided to use an app called ‘My Diet Diary Calorie Counter’ to record my diary. Phase 2 was about recording the diary and personal reflection. At the end of each day, I have recorded my food intake, activities and calculate my total energy balance and plotted it into a graph. After 1 week, we gathered back to meet our supervisor and discussed our findings. The Phase 3 was a group work where we created an advice pamphlet for community …show more content…
Therefore, it may be important to encourage individuals to try different diary methods until they find one method or a combination of methods (e.g. paper-pencil diary plus a web-based diary) that works best for them. In a study, adherence to the text-messaging intervention was found to be related to greater weight loss and the authors concluded that text messages might be a useful adjunct to a weight loss program (Carter et al, 2013)
Self-monitoring is not hard if the patient was given the information. When weighing, it is favourable that they use the same/similar type of clothing to ensure accuracy in their measurement. As for the body fat monitor, it would be expensive tool for some however, for the long run, it would benefit the patient. Measuring the wait and hip circumference cab be challenging sometims as patients do not know exactly where to measure. Pharmacists should demonstrate to the patients to aid their understanding.
Conclusion
Keeping a food diary can support patients to maintain a healthy lifestyle as it will help them to be more aware of their calorie intake and build up their motivation to lose weight. By maintaining a good track of food diary and physical activities dairy, patients can lose double the amount of weight as compared to those who do not keep track of their daily
Introduction
As a MPharm student who is working towards a career as a qualified pharmacist, I realised that I have an important role in promoting healthy lifestyle to the community since it is one of the essential services provided under NHS Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (PSNC, 2007). In the UK, there was an obvious increase in the percentage of adults that were obese. In 1993, it was only at 13.2%. However, in 2013, it rose to 26.0% in for men, while for women, it increases from 16.4% to 23.8%. The proportions that were overweight including obese increased from 57.6% to 67.1% in men and from 48.6% to 57.2% …show more content…
It was divided into three phase. During the first meeting, which is the Phase 1, we measured our own weight using the electronic weighing scale, height using the stadiometer, body fat using the monitor and using measuring tape to measure our hip and waist circumference. Besides that, we also calculated our body mass index (BMI) and basal metabolic rate (BMR). We were required to complete a personal food and activities diary for a week. In our group of four, I have decided to use an app called ‘My Diet Diary Calorie Counter’ to record my diary. Phase 2 was about recording the diary and personal reflection. At the end of each day, I have recorded my food intake, activities and calculate my total energy balance and plotted it into a graph. After 1 week, we gathered back to meet our supervisor and discussed our findings. The Phase 3 was a group work where we created an advice pamphlet for community …show more content…
Therefore, it may be important to encourage individuals to try different diary methods until they find one method or a combination of methods (e.g. paper-pencil diary plus a web-based diary) that works best for them. In a study, adherence to the text-messaging intervention was found to be related to greater weight loss and the authors concluded that text messages might be a useful adjunct to a weight loss program (Carter et al, 2013)
Self-monitoring is not hard if the patient was given the information. When weighing, it is favourable that they use the same/similar type of clothing to ensure accuracy in their measurement. As for the body fat monitor, it would be expensive tool for some however, for the long run, it would benefit the patient. Measuring the wait and hip circumference cab be challenging sometims as patients do not know exactly where to measure. Pharmacists should demonstrate to the patients to aid their understanding.
Conclusion
Keeping a food diary can support patients to maintain a healthy lifestyle as it will help them to be more aware of their calorie intake and build up their motivation to lose weight. By maintaining a good track of food diary and physical activities dairy, patients can lose double the amount of weight as compared to those who do not keep track of their daily