Evaluating the Validity and Feasibility of a Smartwatch-based Eating Detection System to Passively and Automatically Detect Eating Events in Child-parent Dyads

NCT07290179 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: PBRC 2025-029
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 35
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

This study will test the validity and feasibility of an smartwatch-based system to detect eating and drinking events in both laboratory and free-living conditions.

Conditions

Eating Behavior

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Accuracy and Performance of Smartwatch-based Eating Detection System in Controlled Conditions

  Accuracy and performance of smartwatch-based system for detecting eating and drinking events compared to video-coded ground truth during a controlled laboratory conditions. Metrics include: Precision (proportion of correctly detected eating events among all detected events), Recall/Sensitivity (proportion of actual eating events detected), Specificity (proportion of non-eating events correctly identified as non-eating) F1-score (harmonic mean of precision and recall), Overall accuracy (proportion of correct classification).

  During the controlled laboratory session (Day 1).

• Adherence to Smartwatch Protocol

  Proportion of families meeting adherence criteria, defined as both parent and child wearing the smartwatch during eating on at least 2 of 3 days and the parent responding to ≥75% of EMA prompts related to smartwatch charging and app functionality.

  During the free-living phase (Days 2-4).

Interventions

Smartwatch and EMA-based eating behavior tracking OTHER

Participants (child-parent dyads) will wear a smartwatch on their dominant hand during a laboratory session and for three days in free-living conditions. In the lab, dyads will perform eating-related activities (e.g., eating with utensils, eating with hands, drinking) and non-eating activities (e.g., walking, writing, brushing teeth) while being video recorded for ground truth validation. Parents will receive a 20-minute training on using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) prompts to record meal and snack times and will respond to EMA reminders during the free-living period. Adherence will be monitored through smartwatch wear time and EMA response rates.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 8 Years - 12 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

A sample of 35 dyads (35 parents and their 8-12 years old children) will be recruited from the Baton Rouge, LA area.

You may qualify if:

• Parents or caregivers (18-70 years) who have children aged 8-12 years
• Child is willing and able to wear smartwatch during school hours (have not restrictions in the school setting)

You may not qualify if:

• Any condition or circumstance that could impede study completion
• Child does not follow a regular eating pattern
• Child eats less than 1 meal and 1 snack in a day
• Child is restricted or allergic to the study foods
• Refusal or unable to use the smartwatch to collect data for the 3-day period in free - living conditions
• Parental refusal or unable to respond Ecological Momentary Assessment prompts

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Pennington Biomedical Research Center: lead

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Feeding Behavior

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior, Animal; Behavior

Study Officials

• Hanim E Diktas, PhD

  Pennington Biomedical Research Center

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Hanim E Diktas, PhD

CONTACT

(225) 763-2832; hanim.diktas@pbrc.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 6, 2025
• First Posted: December 18, 2025
• Study Start: May 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Last Updated: May 1, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04