Simple weekly text reminder can help improve diet, health

A new study has revealed that weekly texts and email reminders can help improve the diet and health of people, as it would inform them about their calorie intake.

Research by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health stated that, the 2,000-calorie benchmark was what the FDA considers a reasonable daily calorie intake for many adults. More importantly, nutrition labels on food products sold in the U.S. are based on it.

Lawrence J. Cheskin, director of the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, said that while daily energy needs vary, the 2,000-calorie value provides a general frame of reference that could make menu and product nutrition labels more meaningful, so when people know their calorie "budget" for the day, they have context for making healthier meal and snack choices.

The FDA has proposed new menu-labeling regulations, which would soon require chain restaurants with 20 or more outlets to list calories on menus, menu boards, and drive-through displays.

The weekly text and email reminders were based on The Monday Campaigns' model for health communications, which leverages the idea that Monday provides a weekly opportunity to start fresh and commit to new healthy habits, such as exercise regimens, healthy eating plans or smoking cessation. The Monday Campaigns was a nonprofit organization that started in 2003 with research support from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The study is published online in Health Promotion Practice.