Weight monitoring systems and methods using biometric identification input devices

1. A weight monitoring system comprising:

a biometric identification input device;

a body weight scale; and

a controller operative to;

enroll a plurality of subjects, including acquiring and storing biometric and biographical identification data for each of the plurality of subjects;

thereafter, for each of the plurality of subjects;

authenticate and identify the subject using identification data acquired by the biometric identification input device:

store multiple weight values acquired by the body weight scale for the subject at different designated weigh-in time points, and correlate the weight data with the subject;

index each of the multiple weight values to its corresponding weigh-in time point;

programmatically analyze the weight data to determine and identify subjects who have lost more weight than a prescribed threshold weight loss between a first weigh-in time point of the subject and a subsequent weigh-in time point of the subject; and

programmatically report the identification(s) of the subject(s) who have lost more weight than the prescribed threshold weight loss between a first weigh-in time point of the subject and a subsequent weigh-in time point of the subject, including issuing a visual and/or audible alert.

2. The weight monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the controller is operative, for each of the plurality of subjects, to automatically programmatically:

authenticate and identify the subject using identification data acquired by the biometric identification input device;

store multiple weight values acquired by the body weight scale for the subject at different designated weigh-in time points, and correlate the weight data with the subject;

index each of the multiple weight values to its corresponding weigh-in time point.

3. The weight monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the biometric identification input device includes a biometric scanner adapted to scan and read each subject's fingerprint.

4. The weight monitoring system of claim 1 including a remote administrator terminal and/or an integrated human-machine interface.

5. The weight monitoring system of claim 1 including a console, wherein the biometric identification input device, the body weight scale, and the controller are integrated with the console.

6. The weight monitoring system of claim 1 further including a display.

7. The weight monitoring system of claim 1 wherein:

the system includes an external server; and

the controller is networked to the external server to enable the controller to export the weight data to the external server.

8. The weight monitoring system of claim 7 wherein the external server is operated by a weight certification authority.

9. A method for monitoring subjects' weights, the method comprising:

providing a weight monitoring system including:

a biometric identification input device;

a body weight scale; and

a controller; and

using the controller:

enrolling a plurality of subjects, including acquiring and storing biometric and biographical identification data for each of the plurality of subjects;

thereafter, for each of the plurality of subjects:

authenticating and identifying the subject using identification data acquired by the biometric identification input device;

storing multiple weight values acquired by the body weight scale for the subject, and correlating the weight data with the subject;

indexing each of the multiple weight values to its corresponding weigh-in time point;

programmatically analyzing the weight data to determine and identify subjects who have lost more weight than a prescribed threshold weight loss between a first weigh-in time point of the subject and a subsequent weigh-in time point of the subject; and

programmatically reporting the identification(s) of the subject(s) who have lost more weight than the prescribed threshold weight loss between a first weigh-in time point of the subject and a subsequent weigh-in time point of the subject, including issuing a visual and/or audible alert.

10. The weight monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the controller is operative to programmatically visually highlight, in a report, the identification(s) of the subject(s) who have lost more weight than the prescribed threshold weight loss between a first weigh-in time point of the subject and a subsequent weigh-in time point of the subject.

11. The weight monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the controller is operative to programmatically issue the visual and/or audible alert on a human machine interface in communication with the controller.

12. The weight monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the controller is operative to programmatically and automatically issue the visual and/or audible alert on the human machine interface in the absence of a report request from an administrator.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein:

the subjects are athletes;

the first weigh-in time point of each subject is executed before an athletic practice session; and

the subsequent weigh-in time point of the subject is executed following the athletic practice session.