I Built a Dietbox Alternative with AI Body Composition Analysis — Here's How

[MyrinNew]

What if you could analyze a patient's body composition just from 2 photos?

That's the question I set out to answer when building NutriAssess — and the results surprised me.


As someone who's worked closely with nutritionists, I kept hearing the same frustration:

"I'm paying $30–80/month for tools like Dietbox, and half the features I don't even use."

So I built an alternative. And I used Gemini Vision AI to do something those tools can't.





🩺 The Problem: Nutritionists Are Overpaying

Platforms like Dietbox, Evofit, and NutriSoft are the industry standard in Brazil and growing globally. They do the job — but:

• 💸 $30–80/month per subscription
• 📋 Clunky interfaces built for desktop-first workflows
• 🚫 No AI-powered visual body composition analysis
• 🔒 Patient data locked in proprietary silos

For solo nutritionists, small clinics, or practitioners just starting out, this is a significant cost with limited flexibility.





🚀 Introducing NutriAssess

NutriAssess is a free-to-try, AI-powered nutritional assessment platform that gives nutritionists everything they need — without the bloated subscription.


🔗 Try it free → https://nutri-assess.vercel.app


💳 Get lifetime access for just $12 → https://caffaro.gumroad.com/l/nutri-assess





🤖 The Tech: Gemini Vision AI for Body Composition

Here's where it gets interesting.


Traditional tools require manual entry of skinfold measurements, circumferences, and other anthropometric data — collected by hand with calipers and tape measures.


NutriAssess adds a 360° AI Visual Assessment powered by Google's Gemini Vision AI. Here's how it works:

1. Patient uploads 2 photos (front view + side/back view)
2. Gemini Vision analyzes posture, body fat distribution, muscle definition, and symmetry
3. The AI generates a structured clinical report with:
   • Estimated body fat percentage
   • Fat distribution pattern (android/gynoid)
   • Muscle mass visual assessment
   • Postural observations
   • Nutritional risk indicators
   • Personalized dietary recommendations

This isn't a gimmick — it's a genuine clinical screening tool that saves 20–30 minutes per consultation.






// Simplified example of the AI analysis call
const response = await geminiVision.analyze({
images: [frontPhoto, backPhoto],
prompt: CLINICAL_ASSESSMENT_PROMPT,
schema: BodyCompositionSchema
});










📊 Scientific Formulas Under the Hood

Beyond AI, NutriAssess implements validated scientific protocols:


Body Fat % — Jackson & Pollock (1978)





// 7-site skinfold formula (men)
Density = 1.112 - (0.00043499 × ΣSkinfolds) + (0.00000055 × ΣSkinfolds²) - (0.00028826 × Age)

// Siri equation (1956) — converts density to body fat %
BodyFat% = (495 / Density) - 450







Basal Metabolic Rate — Harris-Benedict (1919, revised 1984)





// Men:
BMR = 88.362 + (13.397 × weight_kg) + (4.799 × height_cm) - (5.677 × age)

// Women:
BMR = 447.593 + (9.247 × weight_kg) + (3.098 × height_cm) - (4.330 × age)







Total Energy Expenditure





TEE = BMR × Activity Factor
// Sedentary: 1.2 | Light: 1.375 | Moderate: 1.55 | Active: 1.725 | Very Active: 1.9







These are the gold-standard formulas used in clinical nutrition — the same ones Dietbox uses — but now accessible for free.





✨ Full Feature List

AI Body Composition from Photos	✅	❌
Anthropometric Calculations	✅	✅
Anamnesis (Patient History)	✅	✅
Patient Portal	✅	✅
Dietary Assessment	✅	✅
Nutritional Plan Generator	✅	✅
Progress Tracking	✅	✅
Price	Free / $12 lifetime	$30–80/month

🔬 Core Modules

1. 360° AI Visual Assessment

Gemini Vision analyzes patient photos for body composition, posture, and fat distribution. Generates a complete clinical report in seconds.


2. Anthropometric Calculations

IMC, % body fat (Jackson & Pollock 3/7 sites), BMR (Harris-Benedict), TEE, ideal weight, lean mass, fat mass — all calculated automatically.


3. Anamnesis Module

Structured patient history: medical background, eating habits, physical activity, sleep, stress, digestive health, and dietary restrictions.


4. Patient Portal

Patients access their own assessments, progress charts, and nutritional recommendations through a dedicated login.


5. Dietary Assessment

Detailed food intake analysis with macros, micros, and meal timing recommendations.


6. Nutritional Planning

AI-assisted meal plan generation based on patient goals, restrictions, and metabolic data.





🏗️ Tech Stack

• Frontend: Next.js 14 + TypeScript + Tailwind CSS
• Backend: Next.js API Routes + Prisma ORM
• Database: PostgreSQL (via Supabase)
• AI: Google Gemini Vision API
• Auth: NextAuth.js
• Deployment: Vercel

📈 The Business Model

I wanted NutriAssess to be genuinely accessible:

• Free tier: Core assessment tools, limited AI analyses
• Lifetime deal: $12 one-time (no recurring fees, ever)

👉 Grab lifetime access for $12 → https://caffaro.gumroad.com/l/nutri-assess


For context, that's less than a single month of Dietbox's cheapest plan.





🎯 Who Is This For?

• Solo nutritionists and dietitians
• Nutrition students building their first client base
• Small clinics looking to cut SaaS costs
• Personal trainers who work with nutrition
• Anyone curious about AI-powered health assessments

🔮 What's Next

• [ ] Mobile app (React Native)
• [ ] TACO/IBGE food database integration
• [ ] PDF report generation
• [ ] WhatsApp patient reminders
• [ ] Multi-practitioner clinic management

Try It Yourself

The app is live and working right now:


🔗 https://nutri-assess.vercel.app


If you're a nutritionist, dietitian, or just curious about what AI can do in clinical settings, I'd love your feedback.


And if you find it valuable:


💳 Lifetime access for $12 → https://caffaro.gumroad.com/l/nutri-assess





Built with ❤️ using Next.js, Gemini Vision AI, and a genuine desire to make nutritional care more accessible.


Have questions about the tech? Drop a comment below — I read everything.




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