New Device Measures Fat Burning Through Breath Analysis

WHO:

Engadget - Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, including Andreas Güntner, who studies molecular sensing.

Nature - Two authors of the study are shareholders in Alivion, a spin-off company from ETH Zurich.

WHAT:

Engadget - A handheld breath test can accurately measure when the body is burning fat in real time.

Nature - The device measures the level of acetone in breath to determine if the body is in ketosis.

Nature - The handheld device showed strong agreement with proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) measurements in a small trial involving 12 healthy volunteers.

WHERE:

Nature - The research was conducted at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich.

HOW:

Engadget - Users breathe into a mouthpiece, and the device measures the level of acetone produced during the breakdown of fatty acids.

Nature - The device separates acetone from the breath before measuring it, and a smartphone app guides the user’s exhalation to improve accuracy.

Nature - The device is designed for home use and can detect metabolic changes without requiring clinic visits or blood samples.

(UPDATED July 23, 2026 23:19 UTC)

Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich have developed a handheld breath test that can accurately measure when the body is burning fat in real time by detecting acetone levels in breath, indicating if the body is in ketosis. Users simply breathe into a mouthpiece, and the device, which is designed for home use, separates acetone from the breath and utilizes a smartphone app to guide exhalation for improved accuracy. In a small trial involving 12 healthy volunteers, the device showed strong agreement with established proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry measurements.