Using wearables to spot the best moments to help you eat healthier
SCH: Wearable Sensing and Visual Analytics to Estimate Receptivity to Just-In-Time Interventions for Eating Behavior
This project tries to use wearable sensors and smart data tools to find moments when adults are most open to quick tips that help them eat healthier.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Purdue University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Lafayette, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11160795 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would wear small sensors and use a smartphone app that collect near-continuous information about your eating environment and behavior. The research team will use on-device computing and visual analytics to link patterns in your surroundings and actions with times you seem receptive to a suggestion. The goal is to identify the moments—rather than interrupting you constantly—when short, timely tips are likely to be helpful. Participation may include wearing devices, brief surveys, and occasional in-person visits to the research site.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 21 or older who want to improve their eating habits and are willing to wear sensors and use a smartphone app are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People under 21, those unwilling or unable to wear monitoring devices or use a smartphone, or individuals whose eating problems are driven by medical conditions requiring clinical care may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could mean receiving brief, well-timed nudges that help you make healthier food choices exactly when they will work best.
How similar studies have performed: Related wearable and just-in-time support studies have shown promise in small trials, but using continuous sensors and on-device analytics to predict receptivity is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
West Lafayette, United States
- Purdue University — West Lafayette, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhu, Fengqing Maggie — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Zhu, Fengqing Maggie
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.