The Effect of the AI on Nutrition and Eating Disorders

By Shivani Manikandan

TW: This article discusses eating disorders and other related topics (body image, dysmorphia, trauma, etc.). If this triggers you, please do not read the article.

There are both conspicuous and more subtle ways in which the media and technology affect mental health, specifically when it comes to how someone looks and determining which foods they should or should not eat. The Australian National Eating Disorders Collaboration notes that “Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses; they are not a lifestyle choice or a diet gone ‘too far’” (Types of Eating Disorders). Eating disorders can develop for a variety of reasons, including childhood trauma, abuse, and other mental health related issues. However, as the applications of technology and artificial intelligence grow, many are exploring the applications it has to improving mental health. 

According to IBM, there are many ways in which AI can affect healthcare and the health industry. These benefits include efficiency in administrative workflow, nursing, dosage error, and surgery as well as promote ideas that benefit the client and public (IBM Education). They leave numerous possibilities open in the future and can significantly change the present. Now, patients can use apps on their phone to talk to a doctor instead of driving to their office. Specific scanners can be used to provide users with personalized nutrition information, using the client’s data and the foods they eat (CORDIS). This project, called PROTEIN, is funded by the European Union and allows for users to attain a healthier lifestyle in the age of staying at home and lazing around (CORDIS). Such technology can provide detailed recommendations and are efficient as well (Jessica).

In the age of Artificial Intelligence, it’s easy to believe an algorithm. However, “An element of caution is warranted before going to your phone’s app store and downloading one that proposes to lower your blood sugar or help you lose weight” because it's unclear as to what makes up the algorithm, who it came from, and how it's built (Sterling Medical Group). This technology can have drastic effects on AI tailored towards mental health and eating disorders and is already causing problems; the National Eating Disorder Association has even banned certain chatbots after they have given harmful diet advice, following the movement of harmful advice chat bots have given in terms of mental health (psychatrist.com).

Geoffrey Fowler, a writer for the Washington Post asked different artificial intelligences different ways to induce vomiting, hide food, and practice other similar eating disorder behaviors. Although some provided cautions as to following these “step-by-step guide[s],” it’s still pretty appalling that these radical ideas and solutions are being presented by these systems (Fowler). These include difficult workout plans, specific drugs one can take, and dangerous diet plans. Additionally, applications like Google Bard, ChatGPT, and Snapchat’s My AI are easily accessible and often used, resulting in anyone being able to use these systems in order to look up such guides within seconds. Fowler notes that it is hard to remove such ideas from these artificial intelligence systems due to how they are built and structured (Fowler). However, it’s incredibly hard to limit such questions and thoughts from users.

Ultimately, it matters what someone is looking at and where they are getting their information from. It depends whether they decide to question everything they see or read. It’s going to be quite interesting to see what the future holds. 

Works Cited

CORDIS, cordis.europa.eu. “Ai-Based Personalised Nutrition.” CORDIS, 11 Apr. 2023, cordis.europa.eu/article/id/443201-ai-based-personalised-nutrition. Accessed 25 Dec. 2023.

Education, IBM. “The Benefits of AI in Healthcare.” IBM Blog, 3 Oct. 2023, www.ibm.com/blog/the-benefits-of-ai-in-healthcare/.

Fowler, Geoffery A. Ai Is Fueling Eating Disorders with ’thinspo ... - The Washington Post, www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/08/07/ai-eating-disorders-thinspo-anorexia-bulimia/. Accessed 25 Dec. 2023.

Jessica, Aastha. “Decoding AI-Powered Diet Planning: The Pros and Cons.” LinkedIn, 8 June 2023, www.linkedin.com/pulse/decoding-ai-powered-diet-planning-pros-cons-aastha-jessica.

Sperling Medical Group. “Will Artificial Intelligence Determine What You Should Eat?” Sperling Medical Group, 16 Mar. 2022, sperlingmedicalgroup.com/will-artificial-intelligence-determine-what-you-should-eat/. Accessed 25 Dec. 2023.

Staff Writer June 5, 2023 at 12:05 PM UTC. “Neda Suspends AI Chatbot for Giving Harmful Eating Disorder Advice %.” Psychiatrist.Com, 5 June 2023, www.psychiatrist.com/news/neda-suspends-ai-chatbot-for-giving-harmful-eating-disorder-advice/. Accessed 25 Dec. 2023. 

Types of Eating Disorders | Anxiety and Depression. https://adaa.org/eating-disorders/types-of-eating-disorders. Accessed 24 Mar. 2023.