Smartphones for Fat-Burning

Researchers at NTT Docomo have been working on designing a small breathalyzer that could help people stay on track with their fitness and health goals.  The breathalyzer would measure levels of acetone on the breath and would be able to tell people if they are burning fat or not.  Acetone is the byproduct of the fat burning chemical process and concentration levels of acetone are only raised in the exhaled air of those exercised and followed a healthy diet.  This breathalyzer would also be beneficial for those with diabetes since diabetics tend to burn fat more quickly due to their inability to absorb blood glucose.  To make this device effective, two semiconductor-based sensors are used, one to measure the amount of acetone and the other to screen out the reading of other gases such as hydrogen and ethanol.  This makes the device effective at reading only the concentration of acetone on the breath.  The latest versions of the breathalyzer have Bluetooth capability that allows them to be connected to smartphones, making readings quick and simple to attain. 

I found this article interesting because my aunt is a Type 1 diabetic and is always looking for ways to make her life simplify her life.  In her early twenties she became blind and now relies on “talking” devices to help her keep track with things in her life including: blood glucose levels, insulin shots, medications, doctors appointments, daily calorie intake, exercise schedule, and weight level.  New technology has made this much easier and she is now able to use her smartphone to keep track of these things.  I believe that this new breathalyzer could benefit her and others looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  

http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/biomedical/devices/smartphone-breathalyzer-sniffs-out-fatburning-exercise