A hybrid healthy diet recommender system based on machine learning techniques.

Abstract

Obesity is a chronic disease correlated with numerous risk factors that not only negatively affect all body functions but also increase the chances of developing chronic diseases and the associated morbidity and mortality rates. This study proposes a novel system that bridges the gap between healthcare providers and patients by offering both parties some tools for navigating the intricacies of dietary planning. In this system, machine learning techniques are used to determine the required calories before starting an obesity treatment. A hybrid precision model with minimal parameters is also developed to estimate the appropriate number of calories for losing weight and to formulate a healthy diet plan. A real dataset of 15 anthropometric measurements is analyzed using SVR, LR, and DTR regression models, and all the data are preprocessed before analysis to enhance model performance. Results show that the required calories can be estimated with a high correlation (R = 0.985) from independent measurements. The proposed model also calculates the healthy daily percentages of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates based on a knowledge base of medical rules and functions, thus facilitating the sequential treatment of obese patients. In sum, this study applies different models to design a practical, cost-effective approach for accurately determining the required calories and formulating valuable diet plans for obesity treatment and management.