Teens are turning to AI for nearly everything. But diet information may be a big risk

Teens are using AI regularly, but searching for nutrition advice may be a problem. – Yta23/iStockphoto/Getty Images

Lunch of grilled chicken, brown rice and steamed broccoli, and then dinner of salmon, sweet potato, and a green salad dressed with only olive oil. Oh, and keep each element under 4 ounces and the whole day of eating at about 1,500 calories.

Does that sound like enough food for any 15-year-old boy you know? Well, it is what AI recommended for one.

If a teen is interested in losing weight, chances are they may turn to artificial intelligence platforms to get advice.

But that could cause trouble.

The AI advice they get may be to keep their calories and nutrients drastically below their daily needs, according to a new study published Thursday in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition.

Those AI meal plans for teens asking to lose weight had an average of 700 fewer calories per day than recommended by human dietitians, said lead study author Dr. Ayşe Betül Bilen, assistant professor in the department of nutrition and dietetics at Istanbul Atlas University in Turkey.

The plans also had significant discrepancies when it came to protein, fats and carbohydrates.

The problem is particularly concerning considering how prevalent both weight-loss attempts and AI use are among teens, said Dr. Jason Nagata, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco. He was not involved in the research.

Nearly 48% of teens 16 and older reported attempting to lose weight within the past year, according to a January study. And a Pew Research Center survey found that nearly two-thirds of teens reported using chatbots, with about 30% saying they use them every day. So, it’s not surprising to see adolescents use chatbots to learn how to diet.

“While these technologies can be useful for general information, they should not replace professional guidance — especially for children and adolescents whose nutritional needs are unique,” Bilen said.