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MedHelp and GE Announce New Mobile App That Makes Healthy Eating Fun and EasySan Francisco, CA, Apr 07, 2011 (PRWeb.com via COMTEX) -- MedHelp, the world's largest health social network, has partnered with GE to create a new mobile health app, Pic Healthy, that helps users make healthier food choices in a fun and social way. Users snap a picture of their meal and share it with their friends, who, by rating how healthy or unhealthy the food is, ultimately encourage better eating habits. The app is available as a free download on iTunes for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, or at http://www.medhelp.org/land/photo-food-app. Using their device's built-in camera, Pic Healthy users can take pictures of their food, rate how healthy it is, and then upload their photos to Facebook and MedHelp's health social network. The user's friends can rate how healthy the dish is and whether the user is being honest in rating his own food; this makes the person more accountable for his food choices. Users are also encouraged to eat well by earning points for positive actions: Users earn healthy points for eating healthy foods, honesty points for how accurately they rate their food and participation points for uploading and sharing their food photos. When users want to see if their healthy eating habits have surpassed their friends', they can check the scoreboard feature to see who has taken the lead. "Food diaries have proven to be a successful tool when it comes to developing healthier eating patterns; by simply recording everything you consume, studies show your eating habits will improve," said John de Souza, president and CEO of MedHelp. "With Pic Healthy, the ability to review the pictures of what you eat challenges you to become a healthier eater, and the social aspect of posting your photos for your friends and other followers to see and comment on adds that extra pressure to choose healthy foods. Because the app is so visual, social and easy to use, Pic Healthy makes improving your eating habits fun." "Through Pic Healthy, users can tap into their network of friends and family to enlist the support they need to make healthier choices," said Linda Boff, global director of marketing communications at GE. "We're aiming to make healthy eating a positive, continued experience. By giving people the opportunity to achieve better health through their food choices, Pic Healthy knits closely to the healthymagination theme of better health for more people." "With Pic Healthy, we're leveraging the power of social support to encourage people make choices that will lead to better health," added de Souza. The Pic Healthy photo food diary app is the fifth in a series of mobile applications that GE and MedHelp are creating for consumers everywhere, enabling them to live better, healthier lives. The first was the popular iPhone pregnancy app, I'm Expecting, followed by Sleep On It, a sleep tracker and alarm app, Moody Me, a photo mood tracker app, and My Diet Diary, a weight loss and calorie counter app. Pic Healthy, My Diet Diary, Moody Me, Sleep On It and I'm Expecting can be downloaded for free from the Apple iTunes App Store. About MedHelp MedHelp is leading the consumer health revolution by empowering people to take control of their health. As the world's largest health social network, 12.5 million unique users turn to MedHelp each month to achieve better health. With more than 300-condition specific communities, 150 ask-the-expert forums, partnerships with 7 of the 10 top U.S. hospitals and a robust suite of 50 online health tools, award-winning mobile apps and personal health records, MedHelp is the savvy consumer's health destination of choice. For more information, visit http://www.medhelp.org. About GE GE is a diversified infrastructure, finance and media company taking on the world's toughest challenges. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, medical imaging, and television programming, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, please visit the company's website at http://www.ge.com. About healthymagination Healthymagination is GE's $6 billion commitment that was launched in May 2009. Our "healthymagination" vision for the future invites the world to join us on our journey as we continuously develop innovations focused on reducing costs, increasing access and improving quality and efficiency around the world. For more information, visit http://www.healthymagination.com. Media contacts: MedHelp Marta Debski marta(dot)debski(at)medhelp(dot)org 415-882-4600 Katherine Solem katherine(dot)solem(at)medhelp(dot)org 415-882-4600 GE Stacey Tank stacey(dot)tank(at)ge(dot)com 203-373-2727 ### Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/04/prweb5232734.htm PRWeb.com |