Unveiling the Truth - A 2-Day Hackathon to Debunk Nutrition and Sport Myths

Introduction

The fast-paced world of nutrition and sport is rife with myths and misconceptions. To tackle this issue head-on, a dynamic two-day hackathon was organised to bring together creative minds and tech enthusiasts to create compelling campaign content aimed at debunking these myths. The team used the power of Microsoft Copilot and Open AI Sora to create engaging and informative messages, complete with comics to illustrate each myth.

Day 1: Ideation and Myth Identification

The hackathon began with an energetic brainstorming session. Participants were divided into teams, each tasked with identifying common myths in nutrition and sports. Microsoft Copilot played a crucial role in this phase, helping the teams compile a comprehensive list of myths by analysing fact-based data from various research sources, including ETH Zurich, University of Zurich and ZHAW.

Some of the myths identified

• Training is only effective if you have sore muscles!
• You need to consume a lot more protein when you start strength training.
• Stretching prevents injuries.
• Detox cures cleanse the body.
• Jogging burns more calories than cycling.
• «Superfoods» are essential for health.
• Exercising on an empty stomach burns more fat.
• As you get older, your metabolism slows down considerably.
• Low-fat diets are best for losing weight.
• Caffeine dehydrates the body.

Day 2: Crafting the Message Framework

With a list of myths in hand, the teams set about creating message frameworks for each myth. The goal was to provide clear, evidence-based information to debunk the myths and present the facts in an engaging way. Microsoft Copilot supported the development of these frameworks, ensuring that the content was accurate and compelling.

For each myth, the framework included

1. Introduction: A brief introduction to the myth and its prevalence.
   
   
2. Debunking the myth: Presents scientific evidence and expert opinion to refute the myth.
   
   
3. The Facts: Provide accurate information and practical tips on the topic.
   
   
4. Comic illustration: Use Open AI Sora to create a comic that visually represents the myth and its debunking.

Example Frameworks

Let's break down the messaging framework using the example for «Jogging Burns More Calories Than Cycling»

Introduction: Myth: Jogging burns more calories than cycling.

This myth is prevalent among fitness enthusiasts who believe that jogging is a more effective calorie-burning exercise compared to cycling.

Debunking the Myth Scientific Evidence

Studies have shown that the number of calories burned depends on various factors such as intensity, duration, and individual metabolism. While jogging can burn a significant amount of calories, cycling at a high intensity can also be equally effective. Expert opinions from fitness trainers and nutritionists highlight that both exercises have their own benefits and can be tailored to meet individual fitness goals.

The Facts - Accurate Information 

• Calorie Burn: Both jogging and cycling can burn a substantial amount of calories. For example, a person weighing 70 kg can burn approximately 600 calories per hour jogging at a moderate pace, while cycling at a moderate pace can burn around 500 calories per hour.
  
  
• Impact on Joints: Cycling is a low-impact exercise, making it a better option for individuals with joint issues or those recovering from injuries.
  
  
• Versatility: Jogging can be done almost anywhere, while cycling requires a bike and safe routes. However, cycling can be more enjoyable and less strenuous on the body over long distances.

Practical Tips

• Mix It Up: Incorporate both jogging and cycling into your fitness routine to enjoy the benefits of both exercises.
  
  
• Intensity Matters: Focus on the intensity and duration of your workouts to maximize calorie burn.
  
  
• Listen to Your Body: Choose the exercise that feels best for your body and aligns with your fitness goals.

Comic Illustration

For Comic Representation using Open AI Sora, create a comic that visually represents the myth and its debunking. The comic could show two characters, one jogging and the other cycling, with a thought bubble above the jogger saying, "Jogging burns more calories!" while a fitness expert explains in another panel that both exercises can be equally effective depending on various factors.

Prompt for Open AI Sora

Create picture: A whimsical doodle as a comic illustration with three people (colour code: #314024) on white paper (colour code: #F4F4F4) captures a humorous scene discussing the myth ‘jogging burns more calories than cycling’. 

On the left, two athletes, a woman jogging in front of a man cycling, compete to see who burns more calories. Both are grimacing painfully from burning too many calories and sweating just before the finish line. The finish line is labelled ‘finish’. 

The woman says to the man in a speech bubble ‘Jogging burns more calories than cycling!’. The man asks himself ‘Is that true’.

A training instructor (personal trainer) stands to the right behind the finish line with a lecturing expression on his face and asks the woman and the man ‘Is this a myth?’.

The simple black (colour code: #314024) - white (colour code: #314024) lines and the cheerful theme convey a light mood and illustrate a myth about nutrition and sport in a humorous way. Give the picture in A4 landscape format.

Conclusion

The hackathon was a resounding success, producing a wealth of content to educate and inform the public about nutrition and exercise.

Harnessing the power of Microsoft Copilot and Open AI Sora, participants were able to create engaging and accurate messages that debunked common myths and promoted healthy living.

Special thanks to Alessandro Rüegg and Dominic Gubser, who brought the creativity and domain expertise to the hackathon to deliver a tangible result.

Stay tuned for the launch of our campaign, where we will share these insightful comics and frameworks with the world. Together, we can dispel myths and empower individuals to make informed choices about their health and fitness.

Check out the details at Ernährung & Sport

Trademarks

• Message Framework, Content artefacts including text and images are trademarks of Ernährung & Sport.

References