Pennington Biomedical Research Center

This study tested a lifestyle program to help pregnant women with obesity maintain their weight and lose body fat during pregnancy. About 100 women in early pregnancy took part, receiving either the program or standard care. The goal was to see if the program could improve mother…

This study tested a smartphone program to help low-income pregnant women in the Louisiana WIC program gain a healthy amount of weight. 351 women participated, using the app to track their nutrition and weight gain. The goal was to see if the app could help them follow weight gain…

This study tested whether a virtual weight control program combined with a continuous glucose monitor could help adults with type 2 diabetes lower their blood sugar levels. 152 overweight or obese adults with type 2 diabetes participated. The program used the WW (Weight Watchers)…

This study looked at whether eating only between certain hours (a 10-hour window each day) and choosing foods that are less calorie-dense (fewer calories per bite) can help older adults with obesity and insulin resistance. Forty participants followed this eating pattern, and rese…

This study tested a 12-week diet and exercise program in 40 older adults with insulin resistance and apathy, a motivation disorder. Participants received all meals and supervised exercise. The goal was to see if the program improves insulin sensitivity and reduces apathy, and whe…

This study looks at whether the body's ability to switch between burning sugar and fat (called metabolic flexibility) is linked to changes in metabolic health over 16 years. Researchers will re-examine 18 adults who took part in a study in 2008-2009, measuring things like blood s…

This study checked how accurate two popular apps, PortionSize™ and MyFitnessPal, are at measuring energy and nutrients people eat in real-life settings. 45 adults used each app for separate periods, and their results were compared to a precise weighing method. The goal was to see…

This study checked if two popular diet apps, PortionSize and MyFitnessPal, accurately measure how many calories people eat in real life. Sixty-three adults used each app for a period, and their results were compared to a very precise scientific method. The goal was to see if thes…

This study aimed to create and test a short questionnaire that measures 'food noise'—persistent, distracting thoughts about food. Researchers enrolled 400 adults in the United States to see if the five-question survey is reliable and accurate. The goal is to provide a simple way …

This study tested a new app called PortionSize to see how well it measures what children eat. 31 children aged 7-12 and their parents used the app to track meals. The goal was to compare the app's estimates to actual weighed food and expert ratings. This research helps improve to…

This study looked at how fat cells form and store fat in women with lipedema, a painful condition that causes fat buildup in the legs. Seventeen women drank heavy water so researchers could track new fat cells. The goal was to better understand the disease, not to test a treatmen…

This study tested whether a smartphone app that takes photos of meals can accurately measure how many calories teens eat. 29 adolescents used the app for three days while researchers compared the app's estimates to a precise scientific method. The goal is to improve diet tracking…

This study tested whether giving people free fruits and vegetables along with tips to reduce food waste could improve their diet and cut down on what gets thrown away. 46 healthy adults used a special smartphone app to track their food. The goal was to see if this approach helps …