Can your phone app really track your calories? study puts apps to the test
NCT ID NCT05906160
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study checked if the PortionSize and MyFitnessPal apps accurately measure calorie intake in everyday life. 63 adults used each app for separate periods, and researchers compared the results to a highly accurate method called doubly labeled water. The goal was to see if these apps can reliably track what people eat outside of a lab.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If the apps prove accurate, they could become reliable tools for tracking diet without needing expensive lab tests.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed study (63 people) testing accuracy, not a treatment. Results may not apply to everyone, and app accuracy can vary with user behavior.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for DIETARY HABITS are added.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70808, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- A Plant-Based diet, tailored to local tastes, may tame inflammation
- Can climbing Kids' bodies reveal hidden nutrition risks?
- Grocery labels could slash your carbon footprint and boost health
- Nutrition coaching boosts caregiver wellbeing, study finds
- Study reveals what happens inside your body after eating a burger
- Study reveals how women's appetite shifts with their monthly cycle