Technology Briefs
Healthy Eating
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/healthyeating/diet.shtml
This calculator, sponsored by the BBC and compiled with
Steve
M. Dorman
assistance
from the British Nutrition Foundation, allows users to
enter daily consumption of fruit, meat, dessert, bread, and alcohol.
While
professionals
usedfor
"pencil
andregarding
paper" versions
Thehealth
calculator
generateshave
a report
the user
suggested
of health
calculators
for
some
time,
the
Internet
provides
a great
diet modifications.
environment for expanding on this compelling concept. Web-based
calculators and tools can provide a fun way to pique interest in a
health topic or personalize a general health discussion. Generally,
these tools allow users to input personal health data such as height,
Intelihealth
weight, and gender. Afterward, the calculator responds with risk
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHWOOO/23722/23722.
data or health calculations based on the user's input.
html?k=menux24479x23722
A variety of health calculators can be found on the Web. Some
Intelihealth, a consumer health information site sponsored by the
user-friendly calculators feature animations and graphics, while
Harvard Medical School, offers calculators that allow self-checks
others lack surface appeal. Some calculators are directed toward
for depression, general health symptoms, and risk for heart
health professionals and answer specific clinical questions
disease.
pertaining to health, while others intended for the lay consumer
would be appropriate for general personal health consumption.
Marathon Guide
Web-based health calculators may make excellent tools to
http://www.marathonguide.com/FitnessCalcs/
enhance health instruction. Users can personalize learning by
This site features running, fitness, and nutrition calculators
entering their own personal health data into these calculators. In
including a pace chart, a pace result predictor, caloric needs
addition, health calculators allow users to experiment by inputting
calculator, and an advanced heart rate calculator.
different values to vary the results. School health professionals
may wish to direct students to the following sites as part of, or as a
supplement to, their health instruction activities.
Web-Based Health Calculators
Baby Center
http://www.babycenter.com/tools.html
The Baby Center has a variety of tools and calculators focusing
mainly on pregnancy and the first year of life. The site contains a
Pregnancy 101 quiz, an ideal pregnancy weight gain calculator, an
ovulation calculator, and a preconception readiness quiz. The site
also contains a baby calendar, a baby book, a developmental IQ
quiz, a breastfeeding problem solver, and a baby growth percentile
calculator for use after the baby arrives.
BestHealth
Martindale's
, http://www.besthealth.com/Health+Calculators/
The Reference Desk
This http://www.martindalecenter.com/Calculators1B.html
site, maintained by the Wake Forest University Medical
Center, contains diet and nutrition calculators such as a diabetes
type 2http://www.martindalecenter.com/Calculators1C.html
risk calculator and a cholesterol reduction calculator.
This site contains an extensive compilation of links to a number of
Calcium
Calculator
health
calculators. Some of the links seem more appropriate for
http://www.calciuminfo.com/calciumcalulator.aspx
health professionals, while others are aimed at general users.
The Calcium Calculator, sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline, allows
users Medical
to estimate
current
daily calcium
intake and learn about
Tools,
Calculators,
and Scores
sources
of calcium to achieve the recommended daily intake.
http://www.medic8.com/MedicalTools.htm
This site contains medical tools, calculators, and scores used
HealthAtoZ.com
chiefly by professionals rather than lay persons. The site contains
http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/tl/cooltools.jsp
calculators that address clinical questions such as formula
Healthatoz.com sponsors a variety of calculators in a section
calculators, nephrology calculators, a GI bleed complication risk
called "cool tools." Most of the calculators pertain to weight
index, drug dosage generators, trauma indices, a rash diagnosis
control. They are easy to use and visually appealing.
algorithm, and a burn index.
Health
Calculator
myprimetime
http://www.ivillage.com/diet/tools/healthcalc/
http://www.myprimetime.com/misc/me_meters.shtml
This health calculator allows users to enter health status
Developed by My Prime Time productions, this site features a
information once, then receive a variety of calculations such as
virtual workout, a burnout quiz, a calorie-burning calculator, a
BMI, healthy weight, target heart rate, activity needs, daily caloric
happiness index, and a fitness personality inventory.
requirement, and daily requirements for fat, calcium, iron, protein,
and carbohydrates.
Sportscover Injury Calculator
http://www.sportscover.com/calculator.html
This inventory allows users to calculate the odds of becoming
injured playing a specific sport.
WebMD
http://my.webmd.com/medical_information/health_tools/default.ht
m
This site coordinated by WebMD contains interactive tools and
calculators such as a BMI calculator, calorie counter, dessert
wizard, height predictor, ovulation calculator, due date generator,
and target heart rate calculator.
Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool
Statement of Purpose
http://bcra.nci.nih.gov/brc/
National Cancer Institute (NCI) developed this Web tool that
allows a health
professional
to project
individualized
The Journal
of School
Health, aanwoman's
official publication
of the American School Health Association, publishes material related to
estimate
of
risk
for
invasive
breast
cancer.
This
tool,
on dataincludes administrators, educators, nurses, physicians, dentists, dental
health promotion in school settings. Journal based
readership
from hygienists,
the Breast psychologists,
Cancer Detection
and Demonstration
Project,
counselors,
social workers,
nutritionists, dietitians, and other health professionals. These individuals
shouldwork
be cooperatively
considered only
part
of
the
complex
discussion
with parents and the community to achieve the common goal of providing children and adolescents with the
regarding
a woman's
options
in environment
reducing her risk
of breast
programs,
services,
and
necessary
tocancer.
promote health and improve learning.
Contributed manuscripts are considered for publication in the following categories: Articles, Research Papers,
________________________________________________
Commentaries, Teaching Techniques, and Health Service Applications. Primary consideration is given to manuscripts related to
Steve M. Dorman, PhD, MPH, FASHA, Assistant Editor for Technology, Journal of
the health of children, adolescents, and employees in public and private preschools, child day care centers, kindergartens,
School Health, and Professor and Chairman, Division of Health and Safety, Texas
elementary
schools,
middle
level(sdorman@hlkn.tamu.edu).
schools, and senior high schools. Manuscripts related to college-age young adults are considered
A&M University,
College
Station, TX
77843-4243;
if the topic has implications for preschool through high school health programs. Relevant international manuscripts are also
considered.
Prior to submitting a manuscript, prospective authors should review the most recent "Guidelines for Authors," printed
periodically in the Journal. Copies may also be obtained from the Journal office, P.O. Box 708, Kent, OH 44240, or electronically
from treed@ashaweb.org.
500 • Journal of School Health • December 2001, Vol. 71, No. 10
Journal of School Health • December 2001, Vol. 71, No. 10 • 501