MARIETTE ABRAHAMS
Qina consulting Ltd, Portugal

Abstract

As interest in nutrition, health and disease prevention grows, the need for tools that can analyse the vast amount of data has increased. Advances in big data analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning and neural networks pose exciting opportunity to identify hidden patterns and insights, but do these tools lead to healthier lives and habits? Current research indicates that more research is needed and that healthcare professionals should be integral to developing new products, validating algorithms and eliminating potential bias.

BACKGROUND

The role of the importance of nutrition in health has increased over the last decade. This surge in consumer and public interest is a result of increased access to nutrition and health information as well as government initiatives which focus on disease prevention in an effort to reduce healthcare spending. While public health recommendations focused on a one-size all approach and messages to reach the masses, advances in technologies and innovations have increased the potential of delivering individualized recommendations. In this opinion piece, I will discuss how recent advances in technologies are creating a paradigm shift in how we engage, collect, research and influence end-user behaviour with regards to nutritional information as well as cover their inherent pitfalls.

THE CURRENT SITUATION

Whilst traditional practice has resulted in a treasure trove of healthcare data locked inside electronic health records, paper records and individual practice preferences, new tools have the ability to combine various data sources from sensors, apps, wearables, diagnostic, metabolic profiles and even research databases to b ...