Wearable Electronic DeviceEATNCT06118528
EAT: A Reliable Eating Assessment Technology for Free-living Individuals
A study testing Blur Obfuscation, Cartoon Obfuscation and Edge Obfuscation in people with Wearable Electronic Device, run by Northwestern University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This study utilizes a small, privacy-conscious wearable device intended to monitor human behaviors. The device is worn around the neck, capturing the wearer's head and upper torso within its field of view, and records color images without audio. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Wearable Electronic Device
- What is being tested?
- Blur Obfuscation, Cartoon Obfuscation and Edge Obfuscation
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 72 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 4 Sep 2024to Oct 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- BMI greater than or equal to 18.5
- Chicago metropolitan area resident
- Able to speak, read and write in English
- Has a valid phone number
- Owns a smartphone
- Has access to a computer
Who cannot join
- Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals
- Experienced significant weight loss/gain in the last three months (25 lbs or more)
- Diagnosed with or has a family history of genetic obesity syndromes (e.g., Prader-Willi, Bardet-Biedl, Cohen Syndrome)
- Member of household enrolled in the study
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Northwestern University
Chicago, Illinois, 60611
Nabil Alshurafa, PhD
About this study
This study utilizes a small, privacy-conscious wearable device intended to monitor human behaviors. The device is worn around the neck, capturing the wearer's head and upper torso within its field of view, and records color images without audio. Participants visit the lab for consent, device training and recording of several activities using the device. Participants will then take the device home and wear it during their normal schedules for four "active" weeks. During each active week, participants will wear the device, keep a log of all food and drink items consumed throughout the day and participate in unscheduled phone calls with a dietitian. A "washout" week occurs in between each active week in which participants do not need to complete any study tasks. Alongside the device, we have included three privacy filters (blur, edge, and avatar) capable of obscuring faces and objects seen in the device-captured images. All participants will be subject to unfiltered recording during their first week followed by a different filter each following active week in a random order. At the start of each active week, participants view an example of what their recorded images will look like that week (given the privacy filter). At the end of the seven weeks, participants will return the device and provide the lab with feedback on the design of the device and its privacy-preserving features.
- Conditions
- Wearable Electronic Device
- Being tested
- Blur Obfuscation, Cartoon Obfuscation, Edge Obfuscation, No Obfuscation (raw)
- Keywords
- Wearable, Electronic, Device, Behavior, Eat, Privacy, Camera, Obesity, Obfuscation, Filter, Cartoon, Blur, Raw, Edge, Burden, Wearer, Bystander, Monitor, BMI, Calories
- Medical subject headings
- Behavior, Obesity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Blur ObfuscationBehavioural
Blurring is applied to the RGB images.
Cartoon ObfuscationBehavioural
Cartoonization is applied to the RGB images.
Edge ObfuscationBehavioural
A black background and simple outlines of objects/people are applied to the RGB images.
No Obfuscation (raw)Behavioural
No editing is performed on the RGB images.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Blur Obfuscation | Experimental | Not described Receives: Behavioral: Blur Obfuscation |
| Edge Obfuscation | Experimental | Not described Receives: Behavioral: Edge Obfuscation |
| Cartoon Obfuscation | Experimental | Not described Receives: Behavioral: Cartoon Obfuscation |
| No Obfuscation (Raw) | Experimental | Not described Receives: Behavioral: No Obfuscation (raw) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Daily wear time
Measured: 7 days
Secondary outcomes (1)
Self-report acceptability
Measured: 7 days
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted7 Nov 2023
- Study start4 Sep 2024
- Primary completionSep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionOct 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Wearable Electronic DeviceStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Northwestern UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 72 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Northwestern University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06118528
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STU00215714
- Other IDs
- 1R01DK129843-01
- Acronym
- EAT
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 1 Nov 2023
- Last updated
- 7 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 7 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- EAT: A Reliable Eating Assessment Technology for Free-living Individuals
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06118528
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- EAT / STU00215714
- Conditions
- Wearable Electronic Device
- Keywords
- Wearable, Electronic, Device, Behavior, Eat, Privacy, Camera, Obesity
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 72 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Northwestern UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
- Study start
- 4 Sep 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Oct 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 7 Nov 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study utilizes a small, privacy-conscious wearable device intended to monitor human behaviors. The device is worn around the neck, capturing the wearer's head and upper torso within its field of view, and records color images without audio. Participants visit the lab for consent, device training and recording of several activities using the device. Participants will then take the device home and wear it during their normal schedules for four "active" weeks. During each active week, participants will wear the device, keep a log of all food and drink items consumed throughout the day and participate in unscheduled phone calls with a dietitian. A "washout" week occurs in between each active week in which participants do not need to complete any study tasks. Alongside the device, we have included three privacy filters (blur, edge, and avatar) capable of obscuring faces and objects seen in the device-captured images. All participants will be subject to unfiltered recording during their first week followed by a different filter each following active week in a random order. At the start of each active week, participants view an example of what their recorded images will look like that week (given the privacy filter). At the end of the seven weeks, participants will return the device and provide the lab with feedback on the design of the device and its privacy-preserving features.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 4
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Blur Obfuscation | Experimental | Behavioral: Blur Obfuscation |
| Edge Obfuscation | Experimental | Behavioral: Edge Obfuscation |
| Cartoon Obfuscation | Experimental | Behavioral: Cartoon Obfuscation |
| No Obfuscation (Raw) | Experimental | Behavioral: No Obfuscation (raw) |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- BMI greater than or equal to 18.5
- Chicago metropolitan area resident
- Able to speak, read and write in English
- Has a valid phone number
- Owns a smartphone
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals
- Experienced significant weight loss/gain in the last three months (25 lbs or more)
- Diagnosed with or has a family history of genetic obesity syndromes (e.g., Prader-Willi, Bardet-Biedl, Cohen Syndrome)
- Member of household enrolled in the study
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Blur ObfuscationBlurring is applied to the RGB images. | Behavioural | Blur Obfuscation |
| Cartoon ObfuscationCartoonization is applied to the RGB images. | Behavioural | Cartoon Obfuscation |
| Edge ObfuscationA black background and simple outlines of objects/people are applied to the RGB images. | Behavioural | Edge Obfuscation |
| No Obfuscation (raw)No editing is performed on the RGB images. | Behavioural | No Obfuscation (Raw) |
Primary outcome
Daily wear time
Time frame: 7 days
1 secondary outcome
Self-report acceptability
Time frame: 7 days
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 7 May 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Blur Obfuscation, Cartoon Obfuscation and Edge Obfuscation in people with Wearable Electronic Device, run by Northwestern University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Nabil Alshurafa (3125034517, nabil@northwestern.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Daily wear time (time frame: 7 days). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 7 May 2026.