Using an AI Mobile Application to Promote Healthy Eating

Leveraging AI to Transform Dietary Choices for Cardiovascular Health in Young Adults Experiencing Food Insecurity

The goal of this feasibility study is to determine the adherence, acceptability, and usability of the behavioral intervention of a mobile AI application and its effects on food choices and diet quality. A secondary goal is to assess whether the app's accuracy or feasibility differs by food security status. Study participants are UC Davis students aged 18-24 years. The main question it aims to answer is:

- Does the gamified app version that delivers behavioral nudges have a higher adherence and acceptability rate, and does this translate to better dietary behaviors?

Participants will use either the intervention app (dietary assessment + gamification) or the control app (non-gamified, dietary assessment only) for six weeks to record all their food intake. Diet quality will be assessed at baseline and endline, and a Likert scale acceptability questionnaire will be administered at endline.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Willing to use their smartphones with app to record all foods consumed
• UC Davis student

Exclusion Criteria:

• eating disorders
• Participant in the validation study that tested the app's accuracy against weighed food records