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Researchers and dietitians at Massachusetts General Hospital have created an app to help people living with ALS consume the calories they need to maintain their current weight. This is very important because weight loss can lead to accelerated muscle deterioration, weakness, low energy, and other issues.
Visit our ALS Nutrition page to learn more about getting the calories you need. |
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The ALS Nutrition App, sponsored by The ALS Association, calculates the ideal number of calories you need to consume and then helps you track and log your daily caloric intake. The app also includes daily tips and 100+ easy-to-eat recipes. Visit our ALS Recipes page to see some these recipes for people with swallowing difficulties.
There is no cost to use the ALS Nutrition App. If you have ALS, you can use this app unless you have a history of diabetes, coronary artery disease (heart attack or stroke), swallowing difficulties, or a feeding tube. The app is part of an optional research study. You can choose to share your information and results to help researchers, but it is not required. The app went live on March 30, 2020.
There is no cost to use the ALS Nutrition App. If you have ALS, you can use this app unless you have a history of diabetes, coronary artery disease (heart attack or stroke), swallowing difficulties, or a feeding tube. The app is part of an optional research study. You can choose to share your information and results to help researchers, but it is not required. The app went live on March 30, 2020.
Background and Research
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Dr. Anne-Marie Wills and her colleagues at Massachusetts General Hospital designed the ALS Nutrition App after their clinical trial demonstrated an improved disease progression and quality of life in ALS patients who maintained their weight with a high-calorie diet. Another clinical trial found that people living with ALS were more likely to meet their caloric goals when nutritional counseling was supported by a mobile app.
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Because many people living with ALS do not have regular access to a dietitian, Dr. Wills and her team hope this app can serve as a complementary nutritional guide and tool to help people eat well and maintain their weight. Built into the app is the ALS calorie calculator developed by Dr. Edward Kasarkis, Medical Director at the University of Kentucky ALS Multidisciplinary Center.
The ALS Nutrition App will collect data for the EAT MORE2 clinical trial, which hopes to enroll 100+ participants by the end of 2020 and publish results by the end of 2021.
The ALS Nutrition App will collect data for the EAT MORE2 clinical trial, which hopes to enroll 100+ participants by the end of 2020 and publish results by the end of 2021.
