Online tool aims to help overweight and diabetic Singaporeans

SINGAPORE — Eating clean is a daily affair for dietitian Lim Su Lin. But even the 47-year-old, who heads the dietetics department at National University Hospital (NUH), will occasionally forgo a wholesome meal for durian. The king of fruit has a relatively high calorie, sugar and carbohydrate content.

“Durians are my guilty indulgences. Thankfully, for me, they are available only during certain seasons,” said Dr Lim, who conceptualised Nutritionist Buddy (nBuddy), a diet app for Singaporeans launched early this year.

Having counselled patients who were struggling to lose weight, Dr Lim understands the challenges of having to give up one’s favourite foods.

So, healthier food recommendations to replace poorer food choices is one of the unique features of nBuddy.

Dr Lim worked with local health technology company Wise Health to develop the app. It took her three years to conceptualise and build up its database. It is currently available for free on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

A similar version for those with prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes is now available on the Google Play Store, and will be on the Apple App Store next week.

Tailored to Singaporeans, the nBuddy app allows users to plan their meals and evaluates their food choices in real-time. Features include providing a healthier food option or a choice to reduce portion sizes if the selected food item is not the best choice.

For example, the app might prompt a person who intends to consume a regular cup of milk coffee to go for a “siu dai” (less sweet) or zero-sugar version. It also tells users whether their food choice is a “red thumbs-down” (unhealthy) or a “green thumbs-up” (healthier choice) item.

“Other diet apps typically do not provide an immediate guide on food choices. By the time one realises that he has exceeded his calorie limit for the day, it is too late to do something as the food has already gone into the stomach,” she said.

The app also provides science-based daily tips on healthy living and tracks the user’s physical activity.

And for a fee of S$300 for three months, premium members can get access to nutritionist support from Dr Lim and another NUH dietitian, total nutritional analysis, workshops and educational videos.

Dr Lim said there are plans to roll out the app to other dietitians and nutritionists from other health institutions.

Diet is the key to the prevention and management of many lifestyle diseases, and Dr Lim hopes the app will help people struggling with their weight to start sustainable habits.

“It saddens me when I see patients with diabetes who could have avoided complications like kidney disease if they had managed their lifestyle from the start. It is time for people to realise that the unhealthy diet and large food portion sizes we have grown up eating should not be the norm,” said Dr Lim.