Mirror, Mirror On The Wall... How Fat Will I Be In Six Months?

from the who-is-going-to-buy-this? dept

Fri, May 19th 2006 2:26am — Mike Masnick

You know how there are mirrors that either make you look fatter or skinnier than you really are? It appears that the folks over at Accenture are looking to take that concept and make it into a feature. Actually, it's an effort to convince people to change their lifestyles by showing them what they might look like in the future if they partake in various harmful activities such as overeating, staying out in the sun or smoking and drinking. The idea is that a system of monitors records if you're overeating or involved in one of those other activities, and feeds it to the mirror in an attempt to scare you straight by your own (potential) future ugliness -- sort of a personalized version of the TV show Honey, We're Killing The Kids. Of course, it's not exactly clear who is really going to go out and buy a mirror that purposely makes them look like crap, or if that's really all that persuasive. Either way, if you do get it, you probably shouldn't install it in the bathroom your guests are likely to use.

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8 Comments

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Paul, 19 May 2006 @ 4:29am

Fuuuun
I've really always wanted one of those...

...except I'm lying. Seems like a bit of overkill. I want just a regular mirror!
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Akhaury R Sinha, 19 May 2006 @ 4:34am

How fat will I be in 6 months
Its a good idea considering the number of people who are obese due to lack of awareness on good eating habits.
One way this system could be madeis to have it record the picture of the person each time he or she takes his/her weight.On a screen it can be shown graphically along with his /her picture .This data could then be stored and displayed along with other pictures taken over a period of time when ever the person takes his weight.
Pictures can be taken automatically and stored in a display system
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Howard Lee Harkness, 19 May 2006 @ 4:34am

The cause(s) of obesity
While it might have some benefit to give you some feedback on the future effects of what you are eating, I'd be more impressed if the designers of this mirror showed some understanding of just exactly what the cause(s) of obesity are. The current medical superstition still revolves around the ineffective and dangerous low-fat fad, and current 'research' in nutrition resembles religion much more closely than it does science.
There are 3 keys to overall good health, and none of them are fully correctly identified or understood by the current medical establishment. 1) diet, 2) exercise, and 3) sleep. These three factors are approximately equal in importance. For diet, the medical/nutritional establishment is in DEEP denial over the posionous effects of sugar and starch, as well as over the beneficial qualities of many fats. For exercise, the current (almost exclusive) emphasis is on less-effective aerobics, and not on strength-building (aerobics are beneficial, but not sufficient for good health). For sleep; well, something like 75% of the US population is chronically sleep-deprived. All three of these factors impact key hormone levels used by the body to regulate its weight.
I have personally lost over 100 lbs on a high-fat, moderate-protein, low-carb diet, and over the past 7 years, I have improved my cholesterol, blood pressure, and just about every other recognized marker for health. Since I no longer eat crap that makes me hungrier, I have had very little trouble in keeping the weight off (it is possible to gain weight on a low-carb diet, so I do have to occasionally consciously adjust my eating patterns, a residual effect from the permanent damage inflicted by my many years of unsuccessful low-fat and low-calorie dieting). The main motivation I have had for sticking with low-carb is the fact that it cured the arthritis that had forced me to quit playing my violin for over 4 years (the arthritis went into complete remission less than two weeks after I started low-carb, and has now been gone for over 7 years). In fact, the ONLY problems I have had with a high-fat, low-carb diet is the constant lecturing by well-meaning fools (including several MDs) about how 'unhealthy' my diet is.
As much as I'd love to make money off of my weight-loss 'secret', all of the information is readily available on the internet and at your public library. Just look for the books by Dr. Loren Cordain, Ray Audette, and Dr. Richard K. Bernstein.
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Christopher DeSantis, 19 May 2006 @ 5:16am

More on the cause(s) of obesity
There are many different kinds of carbohydrates, and your body needs carbs for energy production. Low-carb diets can be just as damaging as low-fat. The key is to learn which kinds of carbs will not spike your blood sugar. Low-glycemic carbohydrates, good proteins, and good (omega-3) fats form the basis of a healthy diet that will not elevate your blood sugar, cause hyperphasia, hyperinsulinemia, metabolic syndrome, and type-II diabetes. Add the following two books to the ones mentioned above: Releasing Fat and Healthy for Life, both by Dr. Ray Strand, MD.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 May 2006 @ 6:13am

Sure, Accenture starts by selling you the mirror in your guest bathroom, then they convince you that you need to buy their refrigerator that monitors the food you put into it. Then they install the RFID devises into your car so you can control what stores you shop at. Once thats done, powerpoint presentations are designed that covers your heating/cooling system to reduce energy loss, consultants are walking your property checking for insulation, and consumers are thinking of new ways to outsource all of their functions.

I can't wait.
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FLJerseyBoy, 19 May 2006 @ 6:14am

What we REALLY need...
...is a psychologically predictive mirror. The system would monitor your behavior -- e.g. how many times a week you use a cell phone in an elevator, whether or not you call your Mom on a regular basis, whether and how you vote, etc. -- and then issue periodic warnings along the lines of "Warning! If you continue on your present course, you will be an insufferable *sshole within two months."
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Mirrors, 19 May 2006 @ 6:29am

Mirrors
I had one of those mirrors once...

... but I ate it.
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wolff000, 19 May 2006 @ 8:41am

blah blah blah
when did this turn into a discusion forum for diets? who cares if you are fat as long as you are happy with it. just don't whine about being fat. it is simple to lose weight and you don't have to have some complicated diet where u watch carbs, protien or anything else. Just eat healthy natural foods, avoid mcdonalds and get off your ass and walk around the block a couple of times a day. it is truly that easy. now back to the tech discussion that this should be. interesting stuff they are doing but it would be nicer to tie it in more with other products to make the info more relevant. one last thing about the diet stuff, PUT DOWN THE F@%$ING TWINKIE! sorry i just want to yell that at every fat bastard that whines about being fat while shoving food in his or her face.
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