Validity of the PortionSize™ and MyFitnessPal© smartphone apps for estimating dietary intake: A randomized crossover clinical trial.

IF 3.8 3区医学 Q2 NUTRITION & DIETETICS

Journal of Nutrition Pub Date : 2025-09-27 DOI:10.1016/j.tjnut.2025.09.027

Hanim E Diktas, Chloe P Lozano, Sanjoy Saha, Stephanie T Broyles, Corby K Martin, John W Apolzan

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: PortionSize™ is a smartphone app that utilizes augmented reality and portion size templates to facilitate users' food intake estimates. MyFitnessPal© is a commercial app that tracks food intake based on user's portion size estimates. Both apps provide real-time feedback on dietary intake, with PortionSize also providing feedback on intake of MyPlate food groups.

Objective: To test validity of both apps for accurately measuring food intake compared to weighed food.

Methods: In a within-subjects randomized counterbalanced design, we tested validity of both apps for accurately measuring food intake compared to weighed food. In semi-controlled free-living settings, adults received a cooler each day that contained pre-weighed foods and were instructed to consume only food and beverages provided. Participants used PortionSize and MyFitnessPal during 3-day periods separated by ∼1-week with prior training on each app. After study periods, participants completed a User Preference Survey (UPS). Two one-sided t-tests, with ±18% equivalence bounds, were used to test whether energy intake estimated with apps was statistically equivalent to weighed intake.

Results: The analysis sample (n = 44; 1 dropped) consisted of 55% females, with a mean (SD) age of 44 (11) years. PortionSize (P=0.032) and MyFitnessPal (P<0.001) energy intake (kcal) estimates were equivalent to weighed intake (mean percent error 8.0% vs 3.7%; respectively). MyFitnessPal had smaller relative absolute error (P<0.001) for energy intake compared to PortionSize. PortionSize and weighed food group estimations were equivalent for protein intake (P=0.002). Although estimates for vegetables, fruits, and dairy were not equivalent, the magnitude of error was relatively low (<0.5 cup Eq). For the UPS, 82% of participants preferred using MyFitnessPal compared to PortionSize (18%; P<0.001).

Conclusions: In semi-controlled free-living settings, both apps provided equivalent energy intake estimates compared to weighed foods; however, PortionSize showed greater error for energy and lower user preference than MyFitnessPal, highlighting the need for improvements to decrease error and enhance user experience.

Clinical trial registration: NCT05166226, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05166226.

查看原文本刊更多论文

PortionSize™和MyFitnessPal©智能手机应用程序估计膳食摄入量的有效性：一项随机交叉临床试验。

背景：PortionSize™是一款智能手机应用程序，它利用增强现实和份量模板来方便用户的食物摄入量估计。MyFitnessPal©是一款商业应用程序，可以根据用户的分量估计来跟踪食物摄入量。这两款应用程序都能提供膳食摄入量的实时反馈，其中PortionSize还能提供“我的餐盘”食物组的摄入量反馈。目的：测试两种应用程序准确测量食物摄入量与称重食物的有效性。方法：在受试者内随机平衡设计中，我们测试了这两个应用程序准确测量食物摄入量与称重食物的有效性。在半受控的自由生活环境中，成年人每天收到一个装有预先称重的食物的冷却器，并被指示只食用提供的食物和饮料。参与者使用PortionSize和MyFitnessPal的时间间隔为3天，间隔约1周，并在每个应用程序上进行预先培训。研究期间后，参与者完成了用户偏好调查（UPS）。两个单侧t检验（±18%等效限）用于检验app估计的能量摄入是否在统计上等同于体重摄入。结果：分析样本（n = 44; 1）为55%的女性，平均（SD）年龄为44（11）岁。结论：在半受控的自由生活环境中，与称重食物相比，这两个应用程序提供了相同的能量摄入估计；然而，与MyFitnessPal相比，PortionSize显示出更大的能量误差和更低的用户偏好，突出了需要改进以减少误差和增强用户体验。临床试验注册：NCT05166226， https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05166226。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Nutrition 医学-营养学

CiteScore

7.60

自引率

4.80%

发文量

260

审稿时长

39 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of Nutrition (JN/J Nutr) publishes peer-reviewed original research papers covering all aspects of experimental nutrition in humans and other animal species; special articles such as reviews and biographies of prominent nutrition scientists; and issues, opinions, and commentaries on controversial issues in nutrition. Supplements are frequently published to provide extended discussion of topics of special interest.