Maintaining a healthy weight gets a high-tech upgrade. Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have developed Empower, an innovative online program that makes weight loss smarter and more accessible, reports IANS. Unlike traditional diet apps that focus on calorie counting, this program emphasizes meal planning around protein and fiber to promote satiety and muscle retention while losing weight. The weight management program helps individuals plan meals with the aid of a web application and the support of a registered dietitian.
Many people struggle to maintain a healthy weight, and choosing the best foods for weight loss can be challenging. According to the study published in the JMIR Formative Research journal, most of the dieting apps available usually contain macronutrient calculators.
“But we want people to focus on finding foods with high protein and fiber density to reach their eating goals. It’s less about counting calories and more about finding foods that will satisfy us and provide us with the protein we need to maintain muscle mass while losing weight,” said Dr. Richards of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the US. said doctoral student Ashley Oliveira.
“Foods that are high in fiber also contain all the micronutrients we need, so we’re not missing out on vitamins and minerals because we’re eating less,” Oliveira said.
The first iteration of the program, the Individual Diet Improvement Program (iDip), was an individual program where participants received education and feedback from registered dietitians. Subsequently, iDip was transformed into a fully online program, EMPOWER, to increase access. Researchers tested the efficacy of the program with individuals in rural Illinois.
Empower has three components: educational materials about nutrition; an online app where participants can design meals for weight loss and monitor their progress; And personal support from registered dietitians, who are available for online chat.
The research team developed MealPlot, an interactive feature that charts the protein and fiber content of a food. People enter the food they want to eat into a chart that shows the fiber and protein content. The goal is to ensure that each day’s total food intake is within a specific protein/fiber target range.
The MealPlot app is available for free and anyone can register for an account, but you should work with a dietitian to get the full benefits, the researchers said. The researchers are now fine-tuning the application and plan to launch the full program by spring 2026.
This device could redefine how we approach weight loss and healthy eating. Whether you’re aiming to slim down or simply eat better, this app, with expert dietitian support, could be the game-changer you’ve been waiting for.
