GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) — Your teen might be missing an entire meal due to AI chatbots.
A small study researched five popular AI chatbots to create diet plans for 15-year-olds.
What it found is the plans underestimated what a teen needs for energy every day by about 700 calories on average. That’s comparable to missing almost an entire meal each day.
This can be concerning because the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition says adolescence is a time when teens gain a lot of their adult height and body weight while their bones get stronger at a fast rate. Not to mention, the brain is also still developing, especially areas that help with decision-making, emotions, and learning.
The conversation about teen diets also coincides with a study published at the start of the year in the Library of Medicine. It found nearly 48% of teens 16 and older reported trying to lose weight within the past year.
A Pew Research Center survey found that nearly two-thirds of teens reported using chatbots, with about 30% saying they use them every day.
What parents can do
For parents at home, experts suggest you model healthy eating.
Keep healthy foods easy to reach. Share healthy family meals. And involve your teen in grocery shopping or cooking.
The bottom line: Before following an AI-generated diet plan, experts say teens and parents should talk with a health professional to make sure growing bodies are getting what they need.
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