Tag: Pounds

People who have struggled with unwanted weight have likely tried using lots of different tools over the years, with mixed results. Now there’s a new superpowered tool to add to their wellness toolkit: Artificial Intelligence (or A.I.) And it’s gaining popularity. People are currently using AI tools like ChatGPT to help them build healthy grocery lists, meal plans and workout routines. But the sky seems to be the limit with new AI-powered weight-loss approaches. In fact, some people are even using an AI twin version of themselves to optimize their metabolic health. Keep reading to learn exactly how real women are using AI for weight loss, including JoAnn Berkowitz, who lost 70 pounds with twin health technology.

How artificial intelligence or AI is used for health

AI refers to using computer systems to complete tasks in a way human intelligence might if it had the time. For example, weight-loss apps using AI can quickly and effortlessly analyze data, spot patterns and notify people of potential troubles. In the health realm, for example, it can be used to signal blood sugar spikes, alert patients to potential drug interactions, track walking steps and much, much more. Casey Means, MD, founder of the AI-assisted technology-wellness company Levels, says, “We should all welcome more technology in the interpretation of our biomarkers.” By doing so, the author of Good Energy, adds, “we will see that our ailments are connected rather than siloed, a reality that research is only recently allowing us to see clearly, now that we have tools and technology to truly understand what’s happening inside our cells at the molecular level.”

And Sara Szal Gottfried, MD, author of The Autoimmune Cure, says health-related technology can be particular powerful for women, whose health concerns are often dismissed by doctors. She says, “If you’re not getting the response from the doctor or the clinician you’re seeing, find another doctor,” she says. “And leverage [tech] wearables to balance your metabolic health, stress levels and sleep.”

Getting weight-loss results from AI tools

All this technology sounds convenient, but what sort of results does it really produce in our pursuit for health? In one study published in Obesity Surgery, all participants who tried AI-assisted habit interventions using an app called SureMediks lost weight — an average of 14 percent of their body weight over 24 weeks.

Check out this amazing roundup of AI-powered health testimonials

Help with diagnosis: Shireen Saxena struggled with chronic pain and fatigue for years and saw countless doctors across three continents. But no one could seem to help her. Then she turned to AI — specifically a symptom assessment app called Ada Health that utilized AI. She entered her symptoms into the app and learned they matched symptoms of 9 out of 10 people diagnosed with a condition called endometriosis, which is often related to fluid retention and weight gain. That information empowered Shireen, who ultimately got the help she needed. That’s great news since endometriosis is a commonly overlooked condition in the healthcare field, which often leads women to go an average of 4 to 11 years before being properly diagnosed, according to experts at Yale Medicine.

Blood sugar reduction: Maureen Hannoun lost 27 pounds using a food logging app called Signos Health, paired with an AI-powered continuous glucose monitor as a nondiabetic. Thanks to that technology, she says, “Over the past few months, I have learned some astonishing facts about how my body reacts to food.” The proof: Her A1C improved from 5.8 to 5.3, her fasting glucose fell from 103 to 94 and her total cholesterol fell from 206 to 167.

Weight loss: Deb Stone lost 74 pounds with the help of using the AI-assisted app Noom and walking daily for exercise. She says, “My mood and sleep are better, I’m less stressed. I took a lot of little steps and went really far!” Read more about Deb here.

Work-life balance: Julia Lozanov used FitAI software as a digital health partner to identify ways to get healthy despite her hectic work schedule. “It created 5-minute desk workouts and recommended power-packed smoothies to sip between meetings,” she says. “The app’s AI even detected my late-night munching habits and gently nudged me toward better options.” The results: She lost 25 pounds in a few months, plus boosted her energy, focus and creativity. She says, “FitAI did more than just improve my body; it transformed my perspective to work-life balance.”

Last but not least, check out JoAnn’s amazing success story…

AI success story: JoAnn lost 70 pounds with Twin Health!

Sitting in a circle with a new weight-loss support group, JoAnn Berkowitz listened to other women who wanted — or needed — to lose weight. She heard them talk about the same old ideas she’d heard for ages about eating and exercise and healthy habits. But none of it seemed new. Suddenly, she had a realization. This hasn’t worked for me in 30 years, it’s not going to work for me now.

JoAnn needed to take a new approach to get healthy since being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and struggling with dangerously high blood-sugar levels. She’d already tried counting points, carbs, daily glasses of water, steps, macros and micronutrients. JoAnn shares, “It was alarming how much energy I put into those programs. They just didn’t work.” It all baffled her. “I took care of my family, I was a professional taking care of students, teachers and others I cared about. I worked within my community. How could I have let my own health get to this? I was in bad shape,” she admits. But JoAnn didn’t just want to live on medication. She wanted a better approach. 

Then JoAnn’s doctor suggested trying AI-powered Twin Health, an app that creates a “digital twin” of your unique metabolism, based on various markers and blood tests, to improve your metabolic health on a fundamental level. (It is available through some health plans and employers.) JoAnn gave it a go.

JoAnn started using the power of AI

Once all the details of JoAnn’s unique metabolism were uploaded, the program used artificial intelligence to recommend small lifestyle changes through her smartphone that she could make throughout the day to heal her metabolism. JoAnn learned to tweak the order in which she ate certain foods and to take walks within an hour of eating and much, much more. “I felt empowered.” If she wanted apple pie, she knew how and when to eat it. She noticed, “Very seldom did the app talk about weight.” This was bigger than that. It was trying to get to the cellular root of her health problems. She adds, “There were various actions I could take every day that were essential to allowing me to regain my overall health, get control of my glucose levels…and yes, lose weight.” In fact, she admits, “I actually wondered if my scale was broken because it kept showing loss, loss, loss.” 

Every 90 days, JoAnn underwent bloodwork that showed the health of every organ in her body was improving. She says, “I could see how my lifestyle changes impacted my internal health — from my heart, liver, pancreas and glucose levels.” She says, “Now I know from my digital ‘twin’ what’s going on inside.”

Total-body transformation: JoAnn went from size 22 to 12!

Within 2 years of using AI tools, JoAnn’s average blood sugar level improved from a dangerous 266 to a healthy 114. “My A1C dropped from 10 to 5.4!” She says the little lifestyle tweaks were “easy, and not intrusive at all.” She adds, “Now I am not dependent on medication.” Even her pant size fell from 22 to 12 as she lost 70 pounds. She also felt an increase in energy “and a recommitment to do more: volunteer more, teach more and increase my involvement with the community.” 

“Today I’m in the best shape I have been in 30 years,” she says. This grandmother, who just celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary, cheers, “The weight isn’t the most important part… I have added more years to my life with my family!”

Why the twin approach is driving research

There’s a good reason why twin health is a trend. Some of the most powerful clinical research has been conducted on real identical twins. Check out this story on a recent groundbreaking Stanford study focusing on identical twins and plant-based eating…

This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.