Potential Magazine May 2015 | Page 16

happy + healthy fitness technology TECH SUPPORT USING TECHNOLOGY TO PROMOTE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN TEENS Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to link this increase in weight with an increase in technology usage and the decrease in physical inactivity among the youth that comes with it. Dr. Nefertiti Durant, Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and associate medical director at Children’s of Alabama, decided to meet young adults where they are by developing web-based technology to help those struggling with obesity. DID YOUbenefits for getting fit. KNOW? You can get these bonus Through her efforts, Durant, with support from the Alabama Heart Association and Rodney Joseph, PH.D, has created Love Your Heart, a virtual community of support to help members lose weight and improve their overall health. • Save Money For Losing Weight: Weight Watchers  offers to waive the first two months membership fees for any member who loses 10 pounds within two months of joining. Physical inactivity is a huge risk factor for cardiovascular disease. • Earn Retail Discounts: MaximusLife is an online platform  that allows users to earn rewards such as retail discounts when their fitness goals are achieved. “The great thing about technology is that it meets people where they are,” Durant said. “There are some people who don’t need a lot of help and other groups that keep each other accountable.” • ­Support Hunger Relief: Fitbit partnered with Feedin