Call for papers - Digital technologies for improved nutrition

Guest Editors

Mavra Ahmed, PhD, University of Toronto, Canada
JoAnne Arcand, PhD, Ontario Tech University, Canada
Zhenghan Shi, PhD, Zhejiang University, China

Submission Status: Open | Submission Deadline: 28 July 2025

BMC Nutrition is calling for submissions to our Collection on the intersection of nutrition and technology. The integration of digital technologies into nutrition science has opened new avenues for enhancing dietary practices and public health outcomes. From mobile applications that track food intake to wearable devices that monitor health metrics, these innovations are transforming how individuals engage with their nutrition. This Collection aims to explore the relationship between technology and nutrition, highlighting the potential of digital tools to improve dietary habits and overall health.

New Content Item This collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 2: Zero Hunger and SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being.

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Meet the Guest Editors

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Mavra Ahmed, PhD, University of Toronto, Canada

Dr Ahmed is a Research Associate at the Department of Nutritional Sciences and the Joannah and Brian Lawson Centre for Child Nutrition, University of Toronto and an Adjunct Professor at Ontario Tech University. She specialized in characterization of diets of Canadian Armed Forces and evaluation of novel technologies for dietary assessments and healthy eating habits for her PhD research. She holds a CIHR Fellowship in the Strategic Training Program in Public Health Policy and in Artificial Intelligence for Public Health. With expertise in food and nutrition policy, Dr Ahmed’s research focuses on driving policy shifts by determining the relationships between determinants of health, dietary patterns/intakes and nutrition-related behaviors, and knowledge to improve the health of children and adolescents.

JoAnne Arcand, PhD, RD, Ontario Tech University, Canada

Dr Arcand is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Ontario Tech University. She leads a research program that explores evidence-based approaches to the implementation of nutrition policies and interventions to enhance population-wide strategies aimed at supporting healthy eating, including e-and m-health interventions. Her research addresses behavioral nutritional risk factors across the lifecycle, from children to older adults, for both the general public and people affected by chronic diseases.

Zhenghan Shi, PhD, Zhejiang University, China

Dr Shi is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Biosensor National Special Laboratory, Zhejiang University, China. He holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Zhejiang University. He is also a member of the Chinese Society of Biomedical Engineering. His research focuses on the development of portable and wearable biosensing systems for point-of-care testing of biofluids. He is interested in nutrition analysis with advanced sensing technologies in order to facilitate personalized precision nutrition.

About the collection

BMC Nutrition is calling for submissions to our Collection on the intersection of nutrition and technology. The integration of digital technologies into nutrition science has opened new avenues for enhancing dietary practices and public health outcomes. From mobile applications that track food intake to wearable devices that monitor health metrics, these innovations are transforming how individuals engage with their nutrition. This Collection aims to explore the relationship between technology and nutrition, highlighting the potential of digital tools to improve dietary habits and overall health.

The ongoing exploration of the impact of digital technologies on lifestyle and nutrition is pivotal in our quest for comprehensive understanding of the dynamic interplay between technology and human health. As we witness unprecedented technological advances, our ability to harness the potential of digital technologies to positively influence dietary habits and lifestyle choices is expanding rapidly. Continual research in this domain is essential to unlocking the full spectrum of possibilities for personalized nutrition interventions, behavior modification, and health promotion. Understanding how these devices shape our daily lives provides a roadmap for developing targeted strategies to address nutrition-related challenges. Looking ahead, the integration of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and evolving sensor technologies holds immense promise. These advancements may empower individuals with real-time, personalized insights, revolutionizing preventive healthcare and enhancing our ability to proactively manage nutritional well-being.

In recent years, the pervasive integration of digital technologies into our daily lives has significantly altered the landscape of health and wellness. This Collection seeks to assemble cutting-edge research that delves into the impact of digital technologies on nutritional behaviors, dietary patterns, and overall lifestyle choices, including key topics such as:

Dietary tracking and monitoring
Behavioral interventions
Wearable sensors and physical activity
Data analytics and personalized nutrition
Mobile applications and dietary education
Challenges and opportunities associated with the integration of digital technologies in the field of nutrition, addressing issues such as data privacy, user engagement, and the digital divide

Authors are invited to submit original research articles that contribute to the understanding of the impact of digital technologies on lifestyle and nutrition. We welcome contributions from researchers, nutritionists, and professionals in related fields, as well as those from diverse backgrounds interested in the implications of digital technologies on daily nutrition and lifestyle choices.

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 2: Zero Hunger and SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being.

There are currently no articles in this collection.

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Digital technologies for improved nutrition" from the dropdown menu.

Articles will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process and are subject to all of the journal’s standard policies. Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.

The Guest Editors have no competing interests with the submissions which they handle through the peer review process. The peer review of any submissions for which the Guest Editors have competing interests is handled by another Editorial Board Member who has no competing interests.