VR to Treat Obesity

Clemson, SC

Obesity is a global health crisis, and virtual reality could be the solution! Traditional weight loss programs (online or in person) can be effective in producing weight loss results for participants, but the results are often short lived and not maintained. The transition from weight loss to weight management is often highly unsuccessful due to its lack of excitement. Weight loss participants often regain the weight and return to old habits and unhealthy lifestyles. This 20- minute presentation will outline the project called 3D Future Form by the 3D Viz Center at the University of Wyoming. The session will explore the business case surrounding the justification of research effort in this direction, then the technical aspects of human participant experiments will be addressed, specifically the use of rigged 3d human models, tracking and Unity. Of focus will be the virtual reality experience for the end user, what did they see and what did they report feeling? The hypothesis for the wider project is ‘does having a virtual experience of yourself a healthy weight impact autonomy in motivation?’ The assumption being that if virtual reality can indeed positively impact ones autonomy in motivation the it could be used as a form of treatment for weight loss, and a supportive tool in weight management. The experiments held provided each user with the opportunity ‘to try themselves on a health and unhealthy weight ’first person, real time’, in virtual reality. The long-term goal for this work is to create a licensable product for the medical sector (bariatric surgeons), weight loss clinics and organizations, regular doctor's offices, gyms, schools, and the home market: with 3D Future Form becoming part and parcel of routine obesity/anorexia and weight management treatment.