1 in 4 U.S. Adults Turn to Chatbots for Nutrition Advice as Physician Gaps Persist
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 26
1 in 4 U.S. Adults Turn to Chatbots for Nutrition Advice as Physician Gaps Persist
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 26
More than 25% of U.S. adults recently used chatbots for health guidance, and a January survey of 1,000 adults found one-third had used AI tools to build nutrition or weight-loss plans.
Doctors’ limited time and uneven nutrition expertise are helping drive that shift, with some patients seeking chatbot-generated meal ideas, grocery lists and protein plans tailored to dietary restrictions.
More than 500 New York Times readers who shared their experiences described the tools as fast, personalized and practical for everyday meal planning.
Nutrition experts said chatbots work best for simple tasks like brainstorming menus but can still produce misleading advice, underscoring the risks of relying on them for medical guidance.
When doctors fail to provide personalized diet plans, is AI a helpful assistant or a health hazard?
If an AI's diet plan causes harm, who is legally responsible—the user, the developer, or no one?