Equil Created by Philippe Cosentino, professor of SVT, this software allows to discuss in a concrete and interactive way the notions of metabolism, energy intakes and composition of meals. We present you in this article:
- The main features of this educational application
- Its features to calculate IMC, metabolism and analyze menus
- Online and offline access
- Essential precautions to be followed
This resource is an excellent support for understanding the mechanisms of nutritional balance in a playful and educational way.
What is the Equil-al application?
Equil This web application has been specially designed to support high school and college students in understanding the mechanisms of food balance.
The software links several fundamental concepts: daily energy intakes, functioning of basic metabolism, evaluation of caloric expenditures and analysis of the nutritional composition of meals. This comprehensive approach allows users to understand the importance of matching body needs with food intakes.
We would like to stress that this tool remains exclusively for educational use. Under no circumstances can it replace personalized medical or nutritional follow-up, since integrated data and formulas are voluntarily simplified to facilitate learning.
The educational objectives of the tool
The Equil-al application has several complementary educational objectives in the field of nutrition education. The first is to make students understand the notion of balance between energy inputs and expenditure, a central concept of human nutrition.
The software also helps to understand individual differences in nutritional needs. The calculations take into account age, sex, height and weight, thus showing that each person has specific needs. This personalization helps students understand why food recommendations cannot be the same for everyone.
The tool also develops the critical mind in the face of health indicators. By providing BMI analysis tools, it encourages users to question the relevance of this index to individual situations. This critical approach is essential to avoid simplistic interpretations of health data.
The main features of Equil
The software offers several interconnected computing modules. The calculation function of the BMI (Corporal Mass Index) is the main entry point. It incorporates analytical tools to examine the limitations and relevance of this indicator according to individual profiles.
The calculation of basic metabolism is another central feature. This function uses adapted formulas that take into account the basic physiological parameters: age, sex, size and body mass. The results obtained make it possible to estimate the minimum energy requirements of the body at rest.
The evaluation of daily energy expenditure is the third functional pillar. This estimate takes into account physical activity and lifestyle to calculate the total caloric requirements over one day.
| Fonctionnalité | Parameters considered | Educational utility |
| Calculation IMC | Size, weight | Critical analysis of indicators |
| Basic Metabolism | Age, sex, height, weight | Understanding energy needs |
| Daily expenditure | Physical activity, lifestyle | Estimated total requirements |
| Menu Composition | List of predefined foods | Practical nutritional analysis |
How to access the application?
Access to Equil The online version is the easiest way to use the app, which is accessible directly from an internet browser.
Three web addresses give access to the online version: ac-nice.fr/svt/productions/equilal, cosphilog.fr/equilal et forge.apps.education.fr/equilal. These different URLs guarantee optimal tool availability, even in case of maintenance on one of the servers.
For establishments with a limited internet connection or wishing to use them independently, a downloadable version is available. The equilal_local.zip file can be retrieved, decompressed and installed on the facility's computers or local network.
Online version and offline version
The online version has the advantage of easy access and automatic update. Students can access it from any connected device, making it easy to use in class or at home. This version requires no prior installation and works on all modern browsers.
The offline version meets the specific needs of some institutions. It allows local network use, without dependence on internet connection. The installation is done by transferring the uncompressed folder to the appropriate directory of the institution's server.
This dual mode of access ensures flexibility of use adapted to the various technical constraints of schools. This allows teachers to choose the best solution for their working environment.
Classroom use and possible activities
In the classroom, Equil The application can be used as a support for practical work where students analyse different nutritional profiles and compare needs according to individual characteristics.
A typical activity is to have students calculate their own basic metabolism and then compose a theoretical menu using the list of foods available. This personalized approach promotes commitment and understanding of individual nutritional issues.
The tool also allows group activities where different teams analyze various profiles: sporty, sedentary, adolescent, adult. These comparisons enrich the understanding of variations in nutritional needs according to life situations.
Limits and precautions for use
We stress the important limitations of this educational tool. Integrated nutrition data may include approximations or errors, with calculation formulas being simplified to facilitate learning. This simplification, necessary in educational context, makes the application inappropriate for a personalized medical or nutritional use.
The use of Equal should never replace a medical or dietary professional consultation. In case of real questions about diet or health, we strongly recommend addressing qualified professionals.
These precautions must be clearly explained to students to avoid misinterpretation of the results obtained. The objective remains purely educational and does not aim to establish individual recommendations.
Technical information and licensing
Equil
The app uses the SweetAlert library to optimize the user interface and improve the browsing experience. The project, hosted on GitLab as an open source, benefits from full transparency on its development and evolution.
The latest documented updates date back to March 2021 for the application itself, with a GitLab repository maintained active until 2024. This continuity of development demonstrates the author's sustained commitment to maintaining the tool.
Who is the author of Equal?
Philippe Cosentino, the creator of Equil His pedagogical expertise in science education enabled him to design a tool that was perfectly adapted to the educational needs of the secondary school.
Its approach combines scientific rigour and educational accessibility, creating an optimal balance between concepts accuracy and ease of use. This dual skill explains the quality and relevance of the tool developed.
Philippe Cosentino's commitment to the free sharing of educational resources is achieved through the selection of the Creative Commons license and the open-source hosting of the project.
Resources and useful links
In order to deepen the pedagogical use of Equil
The GitLab repository of the project is a valuable resource for teachers wishing to understand the technical functioning of the tool or to contribute to its improvement. This transparency promotes the appropriation and adaptation of the tool to the specific needs of each educational context.
The integration of Equal into a comprehensive educational approach on nutrition can be enriched by other official educational resources, including the accompanying documents of school programmes on nutrition education and health.
