Different methods used for dieting (Assignment2 Research)

Why do people diet?

People diet for many reasons. Some are at an unhealthy weight and need to pay closer attention to their eating and exercise habits. Some play sports and want to be in top physical condition. Others may think they would look and feel better if they lost a few pounds.

Some people may diet because they think they are supposed to look a certain way. Actors and actresses are thin, and most fashions are shown off by very thin models. But this look is unrealistic for most people — not to mention physically damaging to the models and stars who struggle to maintain it.

By the time they turn 12 or 13, most teen girls start to go through body changes that are natural and necessary: Their hips broaden, their breasts develop, and suddenly the way they look may not match girls on TV or in magazine ads. Guys develop at different rates, too. Those guys with washboard abs you see in clothing ads are usually in their twenties.

Source Link: http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/dieting/dieting.html

Different methods used for losing weight/dieting

• Drugs (Weight loss pills)
  (Examples of weight loss pills)
  -Burnt fats
  -Suppress the appetite
  -Laxatives
  -Illicit drugs (meth-amphetamines, crack and cocaine)

  (Why are they unhealthy?)
  -Has  side effects which comes along with the other negative effects of the drugs.
  -Discontinued the body no longer receives the affects of the drugs.
  -Lead to withdrawal symptoms and most likely gaining the weight lost.

• Exercising
  -Cardio Exercises (Running, Cycling, Swimming etc.)
  -Weight lifting
  -Yoga
• Slimming Technology
  -OSIM product
  -Slimming thighs/vest
• Slimming Centre (London Weight, Cenosis, Mary Chia etc.)
  -Slimming  Machine/Technology
  -Nutritionist
• Fasting/Starvation
  -Starve yourself for the whole day without consuming much food, but just water.

  (Why is it unhealthy?)
  If your body is always in “starvation mode” you will gain weight and your body will not be able to function properly. It’s a viscous cycle of starving your self and gaining weight and ultimately you will end up doing more harm than good.

• Different type of diet plan
  -Water Diet
  -Juice Diet
  -High Protein Diet
  -Low/No Carb Diet
  -Pregnancy/Post-Pregnancy Diet
  -Vegetarian Diet
  -Bride Diet
  -Detox Diet
  -Atkins Diet
• Sugar-free gum/Sugar-free syrup
  -Its a type of gum which contains “sorbitol”, which will suppress your appetite

  (Why is it unhealthy?)
  Sorbitol is a sugar substitute. It will cause diarrhea, abdominal pain/bloating, decrease urination and causes dry mouth. In severe cases, it might even cause seizures.

• Purging
  -Vomiting the food from the stomach directly from eating

  (Why would people purge?)
  The person will be satisfied by eating the food but at the same time do not gain any calories and weight gain through purging after each meal. 

  (Why is it unhealthy?)
  It will cause eating disorder bulimia.

• Smoking
  -Increase metabolism, the rate at which you burn calories
  - Suppress the appetite 

  (Why is it unhealthy?)
  Smoking is really unhealthy!! It will eventually affects your lungs, make you smell bad, ,make you feel fatigue often, yellow teeth etc.

Source Link: http://ezinearticles.com
http://www.caloriesperhour.com/tutorial_smoking.php
http://www.women-workout-routines.com/diet-plans.html
http://askthetrainer.com/unhealthy-ways-to-lose-weight.html

Personas (Re-Up)

Persona

Weekly Observation (Week7)

Finger Food

1) How do the users use this design i.e. explaining the function and usage?
This gadget is very suitable when you are attending a cocktail party/functions etc. You can wear this gadget onto your index finger or even more on other fingers, all the waiter has to do is to serve the finger snack onto the small plate and there you can eat it without wasting toothpick! This gadget is super straight forward!

2) How do the users benefit from it i.e. advantages or USP (unique selling point)?
The advantage of using this gadget is that you no longer have to worry about dumping the toothpick and always have to look for garbage bag to dump those toothpicks away, especially when the toothpick piles up alot and you have to throw it away. This gadget is very convenient as it can be worn like a ring and very easy to remove too. This is very Eco-friendly as this can be used plenty times using the same gadget for the whole party/function, no more wasting of teeth-picks. SAVE THE TREES! It is very small in size also, so that your hand will not look very busy holding so many things at one go.

3) What can be improve?
The texture of the gadget can be with more friction so that the food will not slide down so easy. Make the edges fold up so that the food will be more stable on it.

Weekly Observation (Week6)

Drinklip

1) How do the users use this design i.e. explaining the function and usage?
Users can use this product when they are drinking water. There’s a huge clip attached to this product where you can just clip the product onto any table (or anything which can be clipped) and to be used as a cup-holder. Other than a cup-holder, users can use this as any ordinary clip to clip their stuffs on, etc. magazines, paper and so on.

2) How do the users benefit from it i.e. advantages or USP (unique selling point)?
I feel this product/design is very useful for people like me, who are always infront of their computer. Firstly, this will definitely prevent spilling on the table, it will become a hassle when it comes to cleaning up. Worst still if the water spilled on your work. Secondly, this product will not even get into your way when you are working on your table, you will feel very safe and secure with this and will not have to bother about the cup being in your way while working. Thirdly, you can reach the cup in a reachable distant too (unless you have a super long table and you are using the opposite end of the table). Fourthly, it is being designed in a shape that the cup is very secured when its being placed in the product. You won’t have to worry about the cup dropping of it. With this product, there will be “accident-free” on the table already! Lastly, not only it can be used as a cup-holder, there are other uses of the product too. Example, clipping paper/letters together and make sure it doesn’t fly away or its messy and everywhere around the place.

3) What can be improve?
The shape of the product for the cup-holder part can be improvised into other shapes too, because there are also many cups which are shaped in different shapes, not only circle.

Weekly Observation (Week5)

Butter Stick Type

1) How do the users use this design i.e. explaining the function and usage?
Users can use this Butter stick to apply butter on their bread. I’m sure users have the basic knowledge of using a glue, so by using the glue stick concept of spreading glue. Japanese have a more unique way of spreading butter/margarine on their bread.

2) How do the users benefit from it i.e. advantages or USP (unique selling point)?
For users who are in a rush, but yet taken their breakfast, this will come in very handy to them. They no longer have to take out the butter from the bridge and a spreader to spread butter on bread. They can use this butter stick almost at anywhere, anyplace and anytime. Best thing is, they don’t have to wash the spreader with those butter stained on it, there will be no more use of cutleries. The butter stick is small in size too, hence no worries if users are worried about the size of the stick.

3) What can be improve?
Some people might prefer to have their bread topped with thick layer of butter/margarine, this will mean if you used the butter stick, user might have to go through alot of rounds of applying the butter in order to get the thick topping, it might be a hassle to them compared to just using the spreader to spread a thick layer of butter on their bread. If there’s a button/function which can adjust the thickness of the butter, it will be good! And also, they can also sell refill packets of butter so they can just refill when the stick is being used up, helps to promote eco-friendly too.

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Weekly Observation (Week4)

P-Tree by Sam van Veluw(2009)

1) How do the users use this design i.e. explaining the function and usage?
This a simple pee pot tied to a tree, which is connected to sewerage lines with pipes to add some decency and hygiene to your peeing in public places.

2) How do the users benefit from it i.e. advantages or USP (unique selling point)?
Most commonly found in the European countries or little kids/children, unhygienic public toilets usually forces people to pee either on a wall or around a tree, spreading awful odor in the environment. With this installation/invention, people will not have to endure and put up with the dirty and smelly toilets. When urgent for a leak, they don’t have to search high and low for toilet, saves the queuing time too. Urine can also act as a fertilizer for the tree, its very environmental friendly and will also build more public awareness too.

3) What can be improve?
I feel this invention wont be accepted in the Asian countries as asia people are more conservative, they would not want to expose their private areas in the public. In order to allow more people to be attracted to it, etc. install a game or some fun sound feedback given back when using the P-Tree. The design of the “pot” can be in various shapes and colors/patterns so that it will be more appealing and won’t get sick and tired of looking at it for long. Contest can also be held for creative designers to design a creative “pot”, this is build more public awareness.

Weekly Observation

Dunk Mug with Biscuit Holder

1) How do the users use this design i.e. explaining the function and usage.
Users can use this to drink coffee/tea but also place their cookies in the same place. No extra plates needed to place the cookies. Its very simple to use too! Can work normally as a cup too.

2) How do the users benefit from it i.e. advantages or USP (unique selling point).
I believe this will appeal alot to office people especially to those who like to take tea break or snacks in between. There’s no need for extra washing of the saucers and plates, like as if there’s a need for them! The dunk mug with biscuit holder is extremely useful and it doesn’t even take up much space at all! Saves space and also save extra time washing!

3) What can be improve?
They can make it for both left and right hander, it will be more user-friendly! The cup can also have a shape of rounded surface.