SWITCH App for Obesity

(SWITCH Trial)

Overseen By Brie Turner-McGrievy, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of South Carolina

Must not be taking: Blood glucose medications

Disqualifiers: Type 2 diabetes, Pregnancy, Eating disorder, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

Duration: 12 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a 12-week program using the SWITCH app to help people make healthier food choices and lose weight. The app provides daily dietary tracking, visual feedback, and weekly lessons to support healthy eating habits. Participants will either focus on reducing certain nutrients or increasing recommended ones, based on common dietary needs. This trial suits adults who own a smartphone, have struggled with weight issues, and are ready to change their eating habits. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity for participants to contribute to innovative research in dietary health and weight management.

Do I need to stop my current medications for the SWITCH App for Obesity trial?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you are using medications that affect blood glucose, you may not be eligible to participate.

What prior data suggests that the SWITCH app is safe for promoting healthy dietary changes?

Research has shown that health apps like the SWITCH app can safely and effectively help people change their eating habits. Studies on similar apps indicate they can improve health without causing serious side effects. Typically, these apps involve tracking meals and providing feedback to encourage healthier choices.

Reports from other nutrition apps suggest they are well-received, with most users not experiencing negative effects. Instead, users often find them helpful for making better food choices. This suggests the SWITCH app should be safe for participants in the trial. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the SWITCH app for obesity because it leverages personalized digital nutrition goals to help users improve their dietary habits. Unlike traditional methods that might rely on general advice or medications, this app sets specific, personalized daily intake goals based on age, weight, sex, and dietary guidelines. What makes it particularly unique is its dual approach: one arm focuses on reducing overconsumed nutrients, while the other emphasizes increasing underconsumed nutrients. This tailored, app-based intervention could offer a more engaging and adaptable solution compared to standard dietary programs, potentially leading to better long-term adherence and outcomes.

What evidence suggests that the SWITCH app is effective for weight loss?

Research has shown that mobile apps can help people lose weight and eat healthier. One study found that 42.20% of people who actively used an app lost at least 5% of their body weight after a year. Another study demonstrated that smartphone apps had a small but significant impact on weight loss and reducing BMI (Body Mass Index) over 4 to 6 months. In this trial, participants will use the SWITCH app, with one group focusing on tracking healthy nutrients. These findings suggest that using the SWITCH app to track healthy nutrients might effectively help people develop better eating habits and lose weight. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Brie Turner-McGrievy, PhD, MS, RD

Principal Investigator

University of South Carolina

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

The SWITCH Diets Study is for adults with overweight or obesity who are looking to adopt a healthier diet and lose weight. Participants should be interested in using an app to track their daily food intake and learn about healthy eating through weekly modules.

Inclusion Criteria

My BMI is between 25 and 49.9.

Must be willing and able to change dietary intake

Be free of major health or psychiatric diseases, drug, or alcohol dependency

Exclusion Criteria

I have lost more than 10 pounds in the last 6 months.

Having an eating disorder

I have type 2 diabetes or I'm on medication that affects my blood sugar.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Orientation and Baseline Assessment

Participants attend a study orientation, complete all baseline measures, and are randomized into groups

1 week

1 visit (virtual)

Treatment

Participants engage in a 12-week remotely delivered program with weekly learning modules and daily dietary tracking via the SWITCH app

12 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in Healthy Eating Index and body weight after the intervention

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• SWITCH app

Trial Overview This study tests the effectiveness of the SWITCH app, which includes self-regulation features for dietary tracking and visual feedback. It also provides learning modules aimed at supporting healthy eating habits over a 12-week period.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: SWITCH tracking healthy nutrients Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants allocated to this group will be given goals to reach a recommended daily intake of nutrients in which US adults tend to not consume enough. Recommended amounts will be based off of age and sex, in line with the US Dietary Guidelines.

Group II: standard SWITCH app Active Control 2 Interventions

Participants in this group will be given goals to reduce intake of nutrients in which US adults tend to consume too much. Personalized daily intake goals for nutrients will be based on age, weight, sex, and the US Dietary Guidelines.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of South Carolina

Lead Sponsor

Trials

233

Recruited

122,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7432862/

Evaluating the Implementation and Effectiveness of ... Conclusions: This study demonstrates that prior experience with SWITCH–MS may not be a prominent factor for implementation and effectiveness, ...

2. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41430-025-01676-0

Effect of a mobile phone application for dietary self ... In our study, the mobile phone application did not significantly improve adherence or ZBMI outcomes. However, self-monitoring remains a well- ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11091450/

The effectiveness of mobile app usage in facilitating weight ... This study found that 42.20% (95%CI: 42.95, 45.44) of active users lost ≥5% of their body weight at 52 weeks follow‐up. While the current study did not ...

4. jmir.org jmir.org/2025/1/e66887

The Role of Mobile Apps in Obesity Management Conclusions: Smartphone apps demonstrate a modest but statistically significant effect on weight loss and BMI reduction over a 4- to 6-month ...

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0899900722001034

Mobile health apps: An assessment of needs, perceptions ... The aim of this study was to explore the use of mobile health applications as dietary self-monitoring tools, and their possible role in improving food choices.

6. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06245369

SWITCH Diets Study: Self-monitoring With Internet ... Diet tracking. Participants in both groups will be asked to track all meals, snacks, and beverages via the SWITCH app and complete a weekly learning module.

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9883741/

Behavior Change Effectiveness Using Nutrition Apps in ... The results suggest that mHealth apps involving nutrition can significantly improve health outcomes in people with chronic diseases.

8. georgeinstitute.org georgeinstitute.org/our-research/research-projects/foodswitch-app

FoodSwitch App FoodSwitch app scans packaged food barcodes, providing nutrition info and suggesting healthier alternatives using a Health Star Rating or traffic-light icons.

9. foodswitch.com foodswitch.com/app/foodswitch/

FoodSwitch App - Find healthier alternatives to switch to FoodSwitch scans products and recommends healthier alternatives to switch. Scan a barcode to get its nutrition information and healthier alternatives.

10. news.northwestern.edu news.northwestern.edu/stories/2018/june/foodswitch-health-app

New app offers consumers healthier options - Northwestern Now The app provides a simple Health Star Rating that scores each food between 0.5 stars (unhealthy) to 5 stars (healthiest). The scoring is based ...