Using an AI Mobile Application to Promote Healthy Eating

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS · Jul 30, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This study is looking at how well a new mobile app, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), can help young adults make healthier food choices. The app comes in two versions: one includes fun, game-like features that encourage better eating habits, while the other simply helps users track what they eat without the games. Researchers want to see if the game-like version keeps people more engaged and leads to better diets over six weeks. They will also check if the app works differently for students who have varying levels of food security, meaning whether they have consistent access to enough nutritious food.

The study is open to UC Davis students between 18 and 24 years old who are willing to use their smartphones to record everything they eat during the study. People with eating disorders or those who already helped test the app’s accuracy cannot join. Participants will be asked to use one version of the app for six weeks, and their diet quality will be checked at the start and end of the study. At the end, they’ll also share their thoughts on how easy and enjoyable the app was to use. This study is not yet recruiting participants.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Willing to use their smartphones with app to record all foods consumed
• • UC Davis student
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • eating disorders
• • Participant in the validation study that tested the app's accuracy against weighed food records