Privacy Policy

Additional information for OptimApp research participants

This section only applies if you are enrolled as a participant in the Obesity Prevention & Treatment through an Intervention Mobile App (OptimApp) research project. Part A still applies to your app use, but this section explains the additional research-related processing.

1. Research approvals and study information

·       The OptimApp research project has received ethical approval from the University of Leeds (BESS+ FREC 3238) and Politeknik Negeri Jember (0755/PL17.4/PG/2025).

·       The Participant Information Sheet and Participant Consent Form are provided separately.

·       More information about the study is available at: dietducatex.org

·       Questions about the research may be sent to: fsmi@leeds.ac.uk.

2. Research data used in the study

Research participants will usually provide the same app data described in Part A. In addition, the study may use other research records described in the Participant Information Sheet and Consent Form, such as questionnaires, study measurements, and pseudonymised app usage information.

3. How research data is used

·       To run, monitor and evaluate the OptimApp research project.

·       To assess engagement, behaviour change and weight-management outcomes.

·       To analyse study results and prepare reports, publications, or a thesis.

·       To store and manage study data in line with approved ethics and University data management arrangements.

·       To reuse anonymised or pseudonymised research data for future ethically approved research, where this has been explained to participants.

4. Who is responsible for the research data

For the research processing described in this Part B, the University of Leeds acts as the data controller.

5. Research legal basis

For research participants, the University of Leeds may rely on public task for personal data used for research, and scientific research purposes under Article 9(2)(j) of the UK GDPR for special category data, with appropriate safeguards. Your agreement to join the study is handled separately through the participant consent process.

6. Access to identifiable research data

·       Access to identifiable research data is limited to authorised members of the research team.

·       According to the current data management plan, this includes the principal researcher, supervisors, and the research assistant responsible for data collection.

·       Identifiable data and any re-identification key are kept separately, with restricted access.

·       Research findings are normally reported in anonymised, pseudonymised, or aggregated form.

7. Research retention and archiving

Based on the current study data management plan, identifiable research data is generally kept for up to 5 years. The participant re-identification key is planned to be kept separately for 3 years and then deleted after study completion. An anonymised final dataset may be kept for longer in a trusted repository for research sharing and archiving.

8. Research rights and complaints

You can ask questions about your research data by contacting the study team at fsmi@leeds.ac.uk. You may also contact the University of Leeds Data Protection Officer at dpo@leeds.ac.uk or +44 (0)113 243 1751.

Under data protection law, some individual rights may be limited in the research context where this is allowed by law and where appropriate safeguards are in place. If you remain unhappy after raising a concern, you can complain to the ICO.

9. Final note

This document is intended to be a practical, user-friendly privacy notice for the app. For research participants, the Participant Information Sheet and Participant Consent Form should be read together with this notice because they explain the study procedures in more detail.