A wearable device to assess eating behaviors in everyday life
Official title: EAT: A Reliable Eating Assessment Technology for Free-living Individuals
Run by Northwestern University · NCT06118528 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests a new wearable device that helps people track their eating habits in real life while keeping their privacy safe.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 72 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Northwestern University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Chicago, Illinois) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 4, 2024 |
| Main results expected | September 2026 |
| Study ends | October 2026 |
| Registry record updated | May 7, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06118528 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates include individuals with a BMI of 18.5 or higher who reside in the Chicago metropolitan area and can communicate in English.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have experienced significant weight fluctuations recently may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This study evaluates a privacy-conscious wearable device designed to monitor eating behaviors in free-living individuals. Participants will wear the device for four weeks while logging their food and drink intake and engaging in unscheduled phone calls with a dietitian. The device captures images of the wearer’s head and upper torso, utilizing various privacy filters to protect identities. Participants will undergo training in a lab setting before taking the device home for the active weeks, with washout periods in between.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide valuable insights into eating behaviors, potentially leading to improved dietary interventions.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of wearable devices for behavior monitoring is gaining traction, this specific approach with privacy filters is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * BMI greater than or equal to 18.5 * Chicago metropolitan area resident * Able to speak, read and write in English * Has a valid phone number * Owns a smartphone * Has access to a computer Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals * Experienced significant weight loss/gain in the last three months (25 lbs or more) * Diagnosed with or has a family history of genetic obesity syndromes (e.g., Prader-Willi, Bardet-Biedl, Cohen Syndrome) * Member of household enrolled in the study
Where it's running
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, Illinois, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Nabil Alshurafa
- Email: nabil@northwestern.edu
- Phone: 3125034517
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.