CAMPAIGNERS have criticised an eating disorder helpline for allegedly dishing out “dangerous” diet advice to vulnerable patients.
The US National Eating Disorder Association (Neda)’s AI chatbot ‘Tessa’ reportedly told those seeking help to cut calories, exercise and frequently weigh themselves.
GettyAn eating disorder AI chatbot allegedly told patients to cut calories[/caption]
The organisation was already under fire for sacking four employees in favour of the automated agent.
Previously, people concerned about disordered eating could call, text or instant message Neda for advice.
But since March, assistance has primarily been available through Tessa.
This week, activist Sharon Maxwell posted on Instagram that the chatbot had offered her suggestions on how to lose weight.
This included entering a calorie deficit of 500 to 1,000 calories a day – far below the nationally-recognised 2,000.
Tessa also advised Sharon, who previously had an eating disorder, to weigh herself weekly to keep track of her progress.
She said: “Every single thing Tessa suggested were things that led to the development of my eating disorder.
“If I had accessed this chatbot when I was in the throes of my eating disorder, I would NOT have gotten help.
“If I had not gotten help, I would not still be alive today.”
Psychologist Alexis Conason, author of The Diet Free Revolution, also tested the service and shared her concerns.
She too was told to try a calorie deficit and aim to lose one to two pounds a week, despite sharing she had an eating disorder.
Alexis said: “Imagine vulnerable people with eating disorders reaching out to a robot for support because that’s all they have available and receiving responses that further promote the eating disorder.
“Neda has made it abundantly clear that it doesn’t care about fat folks, people with marginalised identities, and is just calling anyone who criticises them a liar.”
Neda itself reported that those who diet moderately are five times more likely to develop an eating disorder, while people who restrict what they eat more extremely are 18 times more at risk.
A spokesperson confirmed Tessa has now been taken down and it is investigating reports about the bot’s behaviour.
CEO Liz Thompson added that the advice shared was “against our policies and core beliefs as an eating disorder organisation”.
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, when patients already struggling with stigma around their weight are encouraged to shed pounds, they are at increased risk of bingeing, restricting or purging.
Neda worked with psychology researchers and Cass AI to launch Tessa.
Ellen Fitzsimmons-Craft, a professor of psychiatry at Washington University’s medical school who helped create the tool, said it was never meant to replace the original helpline.
She told the BBC she believes a bug caused her design to function more like ChatGPT.
“It is not the programme that we developed, tested and have shown to be effective,” she added.
How to get help for an eating disorder
AN eating disorder is a mental health condition and there are several different types.
They involve using the control of food to cope with feelings and other situations.
The most common eating disorders are:
Anorexia nervosa (trying to control your weight by not eating enough food, exercising too much, or doing both)
Bulimia (losing control over how much you eat and then taking drastic action to not put on weight)
Binge eating disorder (eating large portions of food until you feel uncomfortably full)
If you think you have an eating disorder, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
Charities can also offer help and advice.
In the UK, Beat, Talk ED and Health for Teens are good places to start.
Source: NHS