Pennington Biomedical Research Center

This study tested a smartphone app called SmartMoms in 351 low-income pregnant women enrolled in the Louisiana WIC program. The app helped women track their weight and activity, gave personalized tips, and connected them with counselors to encourage healthy weight gain during pre…

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 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 tested how well a smartphone app called PortionSize measures what children eat. 31 children aged 7-12 and their parents used the app to record meals. Researchers compared the app's estimates to actual weighed food to see if it is accurate.

This study checked if two popular diet apps, PortionSize and MyFitnessPal, accurately measure how many calories people eat in everyday life. 63 adults used each app for a set time, and researchers compared the app results to a very precise method called doubly labeled water. The …

This study looked at how fat cells grow in women with lipedema, a condition that causes painful fat buildup in the legs. Seventeen women drank heavy water so researchers could track new fat cell formation. The goal was to better understand what makes lipedema different from regul…

This study tested a smartphone app called FoodImage to see if it could help people improve their diet and reduce household food waste. 46 adults used the app to track what they ate and threw away over 4 weeks. The goal was to see if smart tips and free fruits and vegetables could…

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 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 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…