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.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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63 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jun 2023
- Finished
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Mar 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
Adults aged 18-62, males and females.
- Ages
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18 to 62 years
- Sex
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Anyone
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Male or female, age 18-62 years * Body mass index (BMI) 18.5-50 kg/m2 * Ownership of an iPhone model 9 or later, which the participant is willing to use for the study * Access to Apple ID, password, and email address and willing to use them during the study * Willing to use data and any accompanying charges as part of study participation * Willing to complete all study procedures and adhere to study visit timelines * Willing to be re-contacted for future research and/or follow-up Exclusion Criteria: oHave been 6-month weight unstable (gain/loss \>5% last 6 months) and/or active weight loss program * Any cardiometabolic disorder that significantly affects what or how much people eat * Active cancer diagnosis or treatment that significantly affects what or how much people eat, excluding some melanomas and other cancers * PBRC employee, as previous reviewers argued that they are not representative of the community ( * 3rd member of the same household to participate (i.e. the 1st and 2nd members of the household cannot participate simultaneously) * Women who are currently pregnant or breastfeeding (self-reported) * Diagnosed with an uncontrolled thyroid disorder (controlled ≥ 3 months of medication) * Have had or plan to have weight loss surgery (gastric band removal may be allowed at PI discretion) * Consume \>28 alcoholic beverages per week * Anyone severely immunocompromised * Serious digestive disorders that significantly affect what or how much people eat Fluid imbalance and/or on diuretic * Follows a diet mainly consisting of foods that study staff deems unquantifiable for this study (i.e., liquid supplements, gluten-free specialty items) or consumes a high quantity of specialty foods * Any condition or circumstance that, in the judgement of the PIs, couldimpede study completion
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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
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Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70808, United States
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