November 24, 2003

BIRMINGHAM, AL — How much is enough? Weight loss experts say limiting the number of calories you consume each day will help you lose weight. But how do you know how many calories are right for you? UAB’s (University of Alabama at Birmingham) new MedGem™ indirect calorimeter provides an easy way to answer that age-old question. MedGem is the first handheld device that measures resting metabolic rate (RMR), the number of calories a person burns per day at rest.

“MedGem™ is an easy, convenient way to measure RMR and helps you determine how many calories your body needs to maintain its current weight,” says Suzanne Henson, MS, RD, director of UAB’s EatRight Weight Management Program. “That gives you a starting point so you can determine how many calories you need to eliminate from your diet each day in order to lose weight.”

Earlier methods for measuring RMR are time-consuming and complicated. MedGem™ is a portable device that simply requires a patient to breath into the device. The process takes approximately twenty minutes.

“MedGem™ provides easier access for patients, lower cost and is much more convenient than previous methods,” says Henson.

The device also measures oxygen consumption as well at RMR. In addition to weight loss applications, this kind of nutrition monitoring can be an important tool in the treatment of conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and obesity.

Special holiday discounts will be available for both the MedGem™ test and UAB’s EatRight Weight Management classes in January, says Henson.