If there’s one thing we know about teens, it’s that they tend to shun parental advice. Another fact: they can be uncomfortable in their changing bodies, and are prone to body dysmorphia and unhealthy dieting habits — or worse, eating disorders. So it’s no surprise that this vulnerable population might turn to AI chatbots as discreet and impromptu diet coaches. A new study covered by Lily Burton for SN reveals that AI-generated nutritional plans may not be very good for them.

🧑‍⚕️ The silicon dietitian

Researchers at Istanbul Atlas University tested how adolescents might interact with AI-driven nutritional coaches. They devised a prompt requesting an eating plan for a 15-year-old. Across five different chatbots tested, the results were universally problematic, suggesting too few calories and carbohydrates, and too much fat and protein. Plans also omitted the kind of context a nutritionist would consider (such as health conditions, socioeconomic status or family dynamics). The study emphasizes that while AI is excellent at suggesting recipes and menus, it still lacks the nuanced understanding of eating disorders and growing bodies, making unsupervised use of the chatbots for this purpose unwise.

💵 Investing in moderation

The global weight management market is ballooning toward $300 billion, and the Gen Z demographic represents a target sector of lifetime customers that traditional diet programs are keen to capture.