Checking a new phone-based method to track what you eat (ESDAM)
Validation of the Experience Sampling Dietary Assessment Method (ESDAM)
This project will test whether a new phone app using experience sampling (ESDAM) can accurately track adults' food intake by comparing it with blood and urine markers and standard dietary recalls.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 115 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | KU Leuven Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Leuven, Vlaams Brabant) |
| Trial ID | NCT06485960 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This observational project runs for four weeks and compares the new Experience Sampling Dietary Assessment Method (ESDAM) with objective biomarkers and reference dietary methods. The first two weeks collect baseline data including demographics, biometrics, and three 24‑hour dietary recalls. The final two weeks compare ESDAM entries to doubly-labelled water, urinary nitrogen, blood biomarkers (erythrocyte fatty acids, beta‑carotenoids, polyphenols), continuous glucose monitoring, and wrist-worn motion sensors. The goal is to determine construct validity and practical feasibility for research and clinical use.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults near Leuven who speak Dutch, have a smartphone and home freezer, have stable body weight, are not pregnant or lactating, and are not following medically required diets are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who are pregnant or lactating, on medically restricted diets, actively trying to gain or lose significant weight, or who cannot use a smartphone or speak Dutch are unlikely to benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, ESDAM could provide a more accurate and convenient way to measure dietary intake for research and clinical care.
How similar studies have performed: Experience sampling has shown promise in small dietary studies, but comprehensive validation against biomarkers like doubly-labelled water and blood measures remains limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Signed informed consent * Having a smartphone and being capable of using the smartphone and apps * Having a freezer at home * Sufficient knowledge of the Dutch language to understand and participate in the study * Having a stable body weight (body weight not changed by 5% last 3 months) * Not aiming to gain or lose weight during the study period Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant or lactating women * Not following a specific diet for medical reasons (i.e. coeliac disease)
Where this trial is running
Leuven, Vlaams Brabant
- KU Leuven — Leuven, Vlaams Brabant, Belgium (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Christophe Matthys, PhD — KU Leuven/UZ Leuven
- Study coordinator: Christophe Matthys, PhD
- Email: christophe.matthys@uzleuven.be
- Phone: +32 16 34 26 55
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.