College student launches online calorie counter

Added on 08/02/10

Author: James Congdon – Editor

Our ever growing obesity problem has led to a great deal of debate in recent months, no more so then amongst government parties. However, a College student from Brighton has invented a novel way to keep track of our physical activities and the amount of calories we consume.

The new website, FutureSelf.co.uk, doubles up as a food and exercise diary as well as a calorie counter. The site was created by Alan Fransham, a graphics student at City College. The idea for the online tool had come about as the result of his own weight struggles and was based on the general concept that in order to maintain a healthy weight, we need to consume less energy than we use.

How does the site work?

Essentially, the site works by you telling it exactly how many calories you have consumed as well as the amount of exercise you have partaken in. It then sets about calculating how many calories you have burned, as well as the amount you will need to burn in the future to remain healthy.

“Alarm bells really started ringing when I was told by my doctor that I was obese, so FutureSelf arose out of a personal need really”, said Fransham.

He also added that: “many people in the UK want to be able do something about their weight but there’s so much confusing advice around and a seemingly limitless variety of diets ranging from the bizarre to the downright dangerous.”

Positive signs?

The initiative comes at a time when BlackBerry, the mobile communications manufacturer are also creating ways for its users to keep a track on their calorie levels. It is without a doubt a positive move, and it offers some reassurance that people are finally starting to care about their health and of course their weight. Experts have predicted that as many as 12m adults will be obese come mid 2010 and it is therefore up to us, as well as governing bodies, to comprise ways to deal with the looming crisis head on.