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Two Ways to Track Food in an Online Weight Loss Program

Compares two food tracking methods in adults with overweight or obesity.

Key facts

Who runs it
Stanford University
Where
Palo Alto, United StatesSee the site
Trial code
Registry title
Simplifying Diet Tracking in a Digital Weight Loss Intervention
Status
Not yet recruiting
People taking part
328 people, planned
Starts
1 May 2027
Expected to end
31 Oct 2030
Type of study
Interventional, 2 groups
Treatments tested
  • Simplified Dietary Self-Monitoring
  • Detailed Dietary Self-Monitoring
  • Core Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention
Record updated
28 May 2026

Who can take part

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for adults in the United States with overweight or obesity who want to lose weight with behavioral strategies. Everything happens remotely, using a smartphone app, for 12 months.

Age
18 years and older
Sex
All sexes can join.
Disease stage
Body mass index (BMI) 25.0 to 45.0 kg/m^2 (overweight or obesity).
Earlier treatment
People cannot be in another weight management program, take anti-obesity medications, or have had or plan bariatric surgery. They cannot have lost 5% or more of their weight in the past 6 months.

Main reasons for not taking part

  • Pregnant now, planning pregnancy during the trial, pregnant in the past 6 months, or breastfeeding
  • Hospitalized for a mental health condition in the past 12 months
  • Cannot do moderate activity like brisk walking
  • Medical or psychiatric reasons not to join (for example end stage renal disease, cancer, schizophrenia, dementia, steroids, antipsychotic medication)
  • Living with someone else in the study

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 21 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • adults (ages 18+ years)
  • body mass index (BMI) 25.0 to 45.0 kg/m\^2
  • smartphone ownership
  • willing to install a mobile app on personal smartphone
  • access to a personal email account
  • English or Spanish language proficiency
  • interest in losing weight through behavioral strategies
  • living in the United States
  • willing to be randomized

Who cannot take part

  • concurrent enrollment in another weight management intervention
  • prior or planned bariatric surgery during the trial period
  • current use of anti-obesity medications
  • hospitalization for a mental health condition in the past 12 months
  • medical or psychiatric contraindication (e.g., end stage renal disease, cancer, schizophrenia, dementia, use of steroids, use of antipsychotic medication)
  • if an individual would be better suited for a more intensive or different type of intervention based on a health condition (e.g., individuals with history of an eating disorder or cardiovascular event, uncontrolled hypertension, or uncontrolled diabetes mellitus)
  • loss of ≥5% weight in the past 6 months
  • current or planned pregnancy during the trial period, or recent pregnancy in the past 6 months
  • currently breastfeeding or lactating
  • living with someone else participating in the study
  • inability to engage in moderate forms of physical activity akin to brisk walking
  • investigator discretion for safety reasons

Where in United States

  • Stanford University, School of MedicinePalo Alto, United StatesContact: Study TeamNot yet recruiting

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

The purpose of this study is to compare two approaches for tracking dietary intake in a 12-month fully digital weight loss intervention: (1) Simplified approach: track Red Zone Foods (e.g., foods high in calories and low in nutritional value) vs. (2) Detailed approach: track all foods and their corresponding calories. In essence, this is a head-to-head comparison of two tracking approaches; the investigators are evaluating whether weight loss is comparable over 12 months, or whether one approach will have greater weight loss.

Read full original descriptionShow less

The investigators will recruit 328 adults. Broadly, adults with overweight or obesity who live in the United States will be eligible. The weight loss intervention will last 12 months. All participants will be asked to track their dietary intake + body weight + steps daily as well as complete weekly behavioral lessons and action plans to promote healthy eating and physical activity. All study tasks will occur remotely. Assessment of body weight and survey measures will occur at the beginning of the trial ("baseline"), and at 1, 6, 12, and 18 months.

The 2 groups in the trial

  • Simplified (Track Red Zone Foods)Treatment being tested

    Simplified + Core

    Treatment: Simplified Dietary Self-Monitoring and Core Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention

  • Detailed (Track All Foods/Calories)Treatment being tested

    Detailed + Core

    Treatment: Detailed Dietary Self-Monitoring and Core Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
Simplifying Dietary Self-Monitoring in a Digital Weight Loss Intervention
Plain-language title
Two Ways to Track Food in an Online Weight Loss ProgramGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
Record updated
28 May 2026