At MyFitnessPal, we want to help you meet your goals with tools and guidance that have been demonstrated to support weight management and behavior change. Our goal calculation methods and health and nutrition recommendations are supported by research, which our registered dietitians have outlined below. 

As we continue to offer guidance and recommendations on nutrition and other topics, we’ll add to this list. 

You should always seek the advice of a physician or a medical professional before beginning any dietary programs or plans, exercise regimen or any other fitness or wellness activities. The information provided here is not medical advice and should not be used as a substitute for physician consultation, evaluation, or treatment, or relied upon to make medical decisions, diagnose, or treat any health conditions.

Registration and App Setup

Logging Progress Tracker

Intermittent Fasting Tracker

Meal Planner

Community Guidelines

These are the sources we reference when providing guidance and recommendations as part of the MyFitnessPal registration process.

Weight goal setting, BMI, and weight assessment

• Assessing your Weight.
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Physiology, Body Mass Index.
  Zierle-Ghosh A, Jan A. [Updated 2023 Nov 5]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-.

• Body Mass Index Categories in Observational Studies of Weight and Risk of Death.
  Flegal et. al., American Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 180, Issue 3. 1 August 2014, Pages 288–296.

• Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults — The Evidence Report.
  National Institutes of Health. Obes Res. 1998 Sep;6 Suppl 2:51S-209S.

• Comparison of predictive equations for resting metabolic rate in healthy nonobese and obese adults: a systematic review.
  Frankenfield et. al., J Am Diet Assoc. 2005 May;105(5):775-89.

Food tracking and its benefits

• The Effect of Adherence to Dietary Tracking on Weight Loss: Using HLM to Model Weight Loss over Time. 
  Ingels JS et. al., J Diabetes Res. 2017;2017:6951495.

Exercise and sports nutrition

• International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: protein and exercise. 
  Jäger R, et. al., J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2017 June 20;14:20. 
• ISSN exercise & sports nutrition review update: research & recommendations.
  Kerksick CM, et. al., J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2018 Aug 1;15(1):38.
• Benefits of physical activity.
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  
  
• Exercise and metabolic health: beyond skeletal muscle.
  Thyfault JP, Diabetologia. 2020 Aug;63(8):1464-1474. 
• Lipid Metabolism During Exercise.
  Ranallo, R.F., Rhodes, E.C., Sports Med 26, 29–42 (1998).

Weight loss goals and strategies

• Making concrete construals mindful: a novel approach for developing mindfulness and self-compassion to assist weight loss.
  Mantzios M, et al., Psychol Health. 2014;29(4):422-441. 

Stress management and the effects of stress on the body

• The impact of stress on body function: A review.
  Yaribeygi H, et. al., EXCLI journal. 2017 July 21;16(1):1057-1072.
• The effects of physical activity on cortisol and sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
  De Nys L, et. al., Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2022 Sep;143:105843.

Health benefits of nutrients, foods, and dietary approaches

• Supplemental protein in support of muscle mass and health: advantage whey.
  Devries MC, et al., J Food Sci. 2015;80 Suppl 1:A8-A15. 
• Protein, weight management, and satiety. 
  Paddon-Jones D, et. al., Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 May;87(5):1558S-1561S. 
• Vegan Diet Health Benefits in Metabolic Syndrome.
  Marrone G, et. al., Nutrients. 2021 Mar 2;13(3):817.
• Marine Omega-3 Supplementation and Cardiovascular Disease: An Updated Meta-Analysis of 13 Randomized Controlled Trials Involving 127 477 Participants.
  Hu Y, et al. J Am Heart Assoc. 2019 Oct;8(19):e013543. 
• Fried Foods, Gut Microbiota, and Glucose Metabolism.
  Qi L. Diabetes Care. 2021 Sep;44(9):1907-1909. 
• Saturated fats and cardiovascular health: Current evidence and controversies.
  Maki KC, J Clin Lipidol. 2021 Nov-Dec;15(6):765-772. 
• Dietary strategies to increase satiety.
  Rebello CJ, et. al., Adv Food Nutr Res. 2013;69:105-182. 
• Dietary Fats.
  MedlinePlus. National Library of Medicine (US); [updated 2015 March 25].
• USDA Nutrition Evidence Systematic Reviews. 
  Boushey C, et. al. 2023 Dec 11.

Nutritional goal setting

• Dietary reference intakes for energy, carbohydrate, fiber, fat, fatty acids, cholesterol, protein and amino acids.
  Trumbo P, et. al., J Am Diet Assoc. 2002 Nov;102(11):1621-30. 
• Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
  U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2010.
• Federal Code of Regulations.
  Food and Drug Administration. Part 101 - Food Labeling. Subpart D - Specific Requirements for Nutrient Content Claims.
• Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate.
  National Academies Press, 2005.

These are the sources we reference when providing recommendations and guidance around logging and individual nutrient goals within our logging progress tracker.

Effectiveness of tracking food

• The Effect of Adherence to Dietary Tracking on Weight Loss: Using HLM to Model Weight Loss over Time.
  Ingels JS, et. al., J Diabetes Res. 2017;2017:6951495.

Benefits of individual nutrients

• Protein, weight management, and satiety.
  Paddon-Jones D, et. al., Am J Clin Nutr. 2008;87(5):1558S-1561S.
• Dietary fiber and satiety.
  Slavin J, Green H., Nutrition Bulletin. 2007;32(s1):32-42.
• Carbohydrate metabolism.
  Cole AS, Eastoe JE, Biochemistry and Oral Biology (Second Edition). 1988, pp 224-288.
• Regulation of energy metabolism by long-chain fatty acids.
  Nakamura MT, et. al., Progress in Lipid Research, Volume 53. 2014, pp 124-144.
• Potassium.
  Lanham-New SA, et. al., Adv Nutr. 2012 Nov 1;3(6):820-1.
• Role of Vitamin A in the Immune System.
  Huang Z, et. al., J Clin Med. 2018 Sep 6;7(9):258.
• Vitamin C and Immune Function.
  Carr AC, Maggini S, Nutrients. 2017 Nov 3;9(11):1211.
• Health Professionals Fact Sheet: Calcium.
  National Institutes of Health.
• Health Professionals Fact Sheet: Iron.
  National Institutes of Health.
• Optimal diets for prevention of coronary heart disease.
  Hu FB, Willett WC, JAMA. 2002 Nov 27;288(20):2569-78.

These are the sources we reference when providing recommendations or claims about intermittent fasting within our intermittent fasting tracker.

• Adherence to Time-Restricted Feeding and Impact on Abdominal Obesity in Primary Care Patients: Results of a Pilot Study in a Pre-Post Design.
  Kesztyüs D, et. al., Nutrients. 2019 Nov 21;11(12):2854
• Effects of 8-hour time restricted feeding on body weight and metabolic disease risk factors in obese adults: A pilot study.
  Gabel K, et. al., Nutr Healthy Aging. 2018 Jun 15;4(4):345-353.
• Time-Restricted Eating Without Calorie Counting for Weight Loss in a Racially Diverse Population: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
  Lin S, et al., Annals of Internal Medicine. 2023;176(7):885-895.
• Effect of time restricted eating on body weight and fasting glucose in participants with obesity: results of a randomized, controlled, virtual clinical trial.
  Peeke PM, et. al., Nutr Diabetes. 2021 Jan 15;11(1):6.
• Dietary fibre and satiety.
  Slavin J, et. al., Nutri Bull. 2007 March 07;32(s1):32-42.
• Protein, weight management, and satiety.
  Paddon-Jones D, et. al., Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 May;87(5):1558S-1561S. 
• Effect of nutrient composition in a mixed meal on the postprandial glycemic response in healthy people: a preliminary study.
  Kim JS, et. al., Nutr Res Pract. 2019 April;13(2):126-133. 

These are the sources we reference when providing guidance as part of the MyFitnessPal Meal Planner feature.

• Healthy plant-based diets improve dyslipidemias, insulin resistance, and inflammation in metabolic syndrome. A narrative review

         Thomas M, et. al., Adv Nutr. 2022 Dec 17;14(1):44–54

• Review of current evidence and clinical recommendations on the effects of low-carbohydrate and very-low-carbohydrate (including ketogenic) diets for the management of body weight and other cardiometabolic risk factors: A scientific statement from the National Lipid Association Nutrition and Lifestyle Task Force

         Kirkpatrick C, et. al., NLA Scientific Statement Volume 13, Issue 5 p689-711.e1                   September-October, 2019

• Ketogenic Diet

         Masood W, et. al. [Updated 2023 Jun 16]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island           (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan

• Modern vision of the Mediterranean diet

         Kiani A et. al., J Prev Med Hyg 2022 Oct 17;63(2 Suppl 3):E36-E43

• Clean Eating: What Does That Mean?

         Dutter E. Mayo Clinic Health System. 2019 September. Accessed at                                     https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-                           health/clean-eating-what-does-that-mean on 24 January 2025.

• Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them

         Monteiro C et. al., Public Health Nutr. 2019 Apr;22(5):936-941

• Paleo diet: What is it and why is it so popular?

         Mayo Clinic Staff. Accessed at https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-                                   lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/paleo-diet/art-20111182 

         on 24 January 2025.

• Vegan diet: nutritional components, implementation, and effects on adults’ health

         Luszczki E et. al., Front Nutr. 2023 Nov 9;10:1294497

• Association between dietary intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among hypertensive adults: Results from NHANES 1999-2018

        Chen H et. al., Clin Nutr. 2023 Dec;42(12):2434-2442.

• Association Between Plant and Animal Protein Intake and Overall and Cause-Specific Mortality

         Huang J et. al., JAMA Intern Med. 2020 Sep 1;180(9):1173-1184

• Saturated Fatty Acids and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: Modulation by Replacement Nutrients

         Siri-Tarino, P et. al., Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2010 Aug 14;12(6):384–390

• 2019 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines

         Arnett D, et. al., Circulation 2019 Mar; 140(11)

• ISSN exercise & sports nutrition review update: research & recommendations

         Kerksick C et. al., J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2018 Aug 1;15:38

• Protein, weight management, and satiety

        Paddon-Jones D et. al., Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 May;87(5):1558S-1561S

These are the sources we reference in our community guidelines.

Disordered eating information

• Current approach to eating disorders: a clinical update.
  Hay P., Intern Med J. 2020 Jan;50(1):24-29.

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