Tracking Our Lives Study

College women are at risk for eating disorders, which have profound health impacts. Cross-sectional studies have shown that the use of dietary self-monitoring is associated with eating disorder risk among college students. However, causality cannot be established with cross-sectional studies. This study utilizes a randomized controlled trial design to examine how the use of a popular dietary self-monitoring smartphone application impacts college females' well-being, including eating disorder risk. We hypothesize those who are randomized to dietary self-monitoring will have a greater increase in eating disorder risk compared to the control group.

Participants are instructed to use a popular dietary self-monitoring application on their smartphone for one month.

Participants use a popular smartphone application to track their food and drink intake for one month.

Eating disorder risk will be measured on a survey via the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire Short Form (EDE-QS). The EDE-QS is a validated 12 question scale. Each question has a score range 0-3, and the average of all scores is the overall score. A higher score indicates higher risk.

Measured via survey using the validated SCOFF questionnaire which consists of five questions. Each question is a yes/no and a yes receives one point with a total score ranging from 0-5. Higher scores indicate higher risk. Modified to ask about pounds instead of stone as a measure of weight.

Measured via survey that includes single item measures asking about physical activity self-monitoring and self-weighing frequency.

Assessed via survey using the validated 6 question Body Image States Scale (BISS). Scores are the mean of the six items, three of which are reverse coded. Higher scores mean better body image states.

Single item survey questions adapted from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System and an open ended question for amount of time physically active.

Assessed using single item question on a survey asking how, if at all, participants wanted to change their body.

Assessed using the Brunnsviken Brief Quality of Life Scale (BBQ) on a survey. The BBQ has 12 questions, each ranging from 0-4. Higher scores indicate higher subjective quality of life.

State anxiety as measured via survey using the short-form of the state scale of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The scale consists of 6 questions with a range of scores 1-4 for each question. Three positive questions are reverse coded and scores are added together with higher scores indicating higher state anxiety.

Measured via survey using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Revised (CESD-R-10). The CESD-R-10 is a 10 item scale with each question having the possibility of a score 0-3. Two questions are reverse coded, then scores from each question are added to give an overall score. Higher scores indicate more depressive symptoms.

Inclusion Criteria: University of Michigan Ann Arbor undergraduate student Daily access to a smartphone Female gender At least 18 years of age Fluent in English Exclusion Criteria: Self-reported history of any medical condition that impacts the types or amount of food eaten Self-reported recent use of dietary self-monitoring Self-reported history of an active or past eating disorder Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire Short Form (EDE-QS) score ≥ 2, indicating high eating disorder risk

Hahn SL, Kaciroti N, Eisenberg D, Weeks HM, Bauer KW, Sonneville KR. Introducing Dietary Self-Monitoring to Undergraduate Women via a Calorie Counting App Has No Effect on Mental Health or Health Behaviors: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2021 Dec;121(12):2377-2388. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2021.06.311. Epub 2021 Aug 20.