AI-Generated Diet Plans Pose Risks for Teenagers, Study Finds
Young people across Australia are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots for personalised nutrition advice and even to craft their daily meal plans, often with the goal of weight loss. However, a recent study has raised serious concerns, suggesting that these AI-generated diets may be significantly underestimating calorie and nutrient intake, potentially leading to detrimental health consequences for teenagers.
The research, published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, highlights that AI models, including popular platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Bing Chat, and Claude, tend to produce meal plans that are not only deficient in essential nutrients but also drastically underestimate the total energy requirements for adolescents.
Key Findings of the Study:
- Significant Calorie Deficit: AI models consistently calculated energy requirements almost 700 calories lower on average compared to plans developed by a qualified dietitian. This substantial difference is equivalent to skipping an entire meal and could have serious clinical implications for growing teenagers.
- Nutrient Imbalance: Beyond just calories, the AI-generated plans exhibited an imbalance in macronutrient intake. While calorie intake was severely undercalculated, the intake of certain macronutrients was overcalculated.
- Protein Overestimation, Carbohydrate Underestimation: The AI models recommended a higher protein intake by approximately 20 grams more than a dietitian would. Conversely, the suggested carbohydrate intake was significantly lower, averaging about 115 grams less than recommended. This resulted in carbohydrate intake comprising only 32-36 per cent of the total energy in AI diet plans, falling short of the recommended 45-50 per cent.
Using artificial intelligence to plan their diet may be causing teenagers to eat too few calories, equivalent to skipping a meal, a new study warns.
Children across the world are increasingly relying on AI chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT to receive personalised nutrition advice and even draw up meal plans to help them lose weight.
The study suggests the resulting plans don’t always adequately cover necessary nutrients and calorie intake, posing potential health risks to teenagers.
“We show that diet plans generated by AI models tend to substantially underestimate total energy and key nutrient intake when compared to guideline-based plans prepared by a dietitian,” said Ayşe Betül Bilen, an author of the study published in the journal
Frontiers in Nutrition
.
“Following such unbalanced or overly restrictive meal plans during the teenage years may negatively affect growth, metabolic health, and eating behaviours.”
The study involved instructing five different AI chatbots to create three-day meal plans for four 15-year-olds. These included a boy and a girl who were overweight, and a boy and a girl who were obese. The AI-generated plans, which covered three meals and two snacks per day, were then meticulously compared against detailed plans prepared by a dietitian specialising in adolescent health.
The five AI chatbots were instructed to create three-day plans covering three meals and two snacks per day.
Researchers then compared the AI-generated meal plans to those made by a dietician specialising in adolescent diseases.
They found that AI models calculated the energy requirement on average almost 700 calories lower than the dietitian did, a difference equivalent to a full meal.
This variation is large enough to have serious clinical consequences, scientists warn.
Ayşe Betül Bilen, an author of the study, expressed her concerns, stating, “Our findings suggest that they may rely on generalised or popular diet patterns instead of fully integrating age-specific nutritional requirements.” This means that AI, in its current form, might be defaulting to common dietary trends rather than considering the unique and critical nutritional needs of a developing adolescent.
The Criticality of Adolescent Nutrition
Adolescence is a pivotal stage of life characterised by rapid physical growth, the development of strong bones, and significant cognitive maturation. During these formative years, adequate energy and nutrient intake are paramount. A diet that is too restrictive in calories and carbohydrates, coupled with an imbalanced ratio of protein and fats, could potentially disrupt these vital developmental processes.
The researchers hope that these findings will serve as a wake-up call, enhancing public awareness regarding the limitations of AI models in crafting safe and effective meal plans, particularly for vulnerable populations like teenagers. While AI offers convenience and accessibility, it cannot yet replace the nuanced expertise and personalised care provided by qualified health professionals.
While the caloric intake was “severely undercalculated”, according to researchers, the intake of certain macronutrients was overcalculated.
“AI-generated diet plans consistently deviated from the recommended macronutrient balance, which is particularly problematic for adolescents,” Dr Bilen warned.
Scientists found that AI models recommended a higher protein intake of 20g more than the dietitian.
The amount of carbohydrates in the suggested meals was much lower, with an average difference of around 115g.
This translates to 32-36 per cent of the energy intake in AI diet plans coming from carbohydrates as opposed to the recommended 45-50 per cent.
“Our findings suggest that they may rely on generalised or popular diet patterns instead of fully integrating age-specific nutritional requirements,” Dr Bilen said.
Researchers hope the findings can help raise awareness about the limited ability of AI models to develop well-balanced meal plans.
“Adolescence is a critical period for physical growth, bone development, and cognitive maturation. Lower energy and carbohydrate intake, combined with increased protein and fat ratios, may pose risks during the adolescent growth period,” Dr Bilen said.
For parents and teenagers alike, this study underscores the importance of consulting with registered dietitians or healthcare providers when seeking dietary advice, especially for weight management or specific health goals. Relying solely on AI-generated plans could inadvertently lead to nutritional deficiencies, hinder growth, and negatively impact long-term health and eating behaviours. The future of AI in nutrition is promising, but for now, human expertise remains indispensable for ensuring the well-being of our youth.
