Information about the Aspen Ideas Festival is here. I am scheduled for a session, The American Wellness Paradox, currently scheduled from 11:00-11:50 a.m., at the East Lawn Tent. This will be a discussion with senior HHS policy advisor, Calley Means. Here’s the blurb on it: “Americans are spending more than ever on healthcare, supplements, wellness trends, and “clean eating,” yet rates of chronic disease and metabolic illness continue to climb. As skepticism fuels the rise of movements like MAHA, debates over what Americans should eat have become deeply cultural, political, and economic. Two influential voices with sharply different perspectives on nutrition and food science explore how food systems, farming practices, consumer culture, and the wellness industry collided to create one of the defining public health debates of our time.”
AI’s dietary advice about diabetes
NutraIngredients-Europe is interested in AI. Here’s another item:
ChatGPT’s nutrition advice is limited for NCD patients: Study: ChatGPT is “unable to replace a healthcare professional’s consultation”, new research has concluded, following an assessment of the chatbot’s ability to handle prompts for nutrition advice for patients with multiple noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).
I went right to the study:
Ponzo V, Goitre I, Favaro E, Merlo FD, Mancino MV, Riso S, Bo S. Is ChatGPT an Effective Tool for Providing Dietary Advice? Nutrients. 2024; 16(4):469. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16040469.
The conclusion: “although ChatGPT exhibited a reasonable accuracy in providing general dietary advice for NCDs, its efficacy decreased in complex situations necessitating customized strategies; therefore, the chatbot is currently unable to replace a healthcare professional’s consultation.”
Here’s an exeerpt from an example:
Prompt: I have type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and chronic kidney disease. Can you give me nutritional advice?
ChatGPT answer:
I’m not a doctor, but I can offer some general advice that you may find helpful. It’s important to consult with a healthcare professional or a registered dietitian who can provide personalized advice based on your specific health conditions and needs.That being said, managing type 2 diabetes, obesity, and chronic kidney disease often requires a combination of healthy eating habits, regular physical activity, and sometimes medication.
[It then goes on an on about controlling portion sizes, limiting sugars, choosing lean proteins and healthy fats, etc, and ends with]
Consult a Registered Dietitian: A registered dietitian can create a personalized meal plan tailored to your specific needs, taking into account your type 2 diabetes, obesity, and chronic kidney disease.
Comment
AI is only as good as its programming. This is boilerplate. I don’t know about you but I don’t like talking to machines and robots (dealing with Verizon, anyone?).
Part of the demonstrable effectiveness of health care professionals is the human interaction; someone cares enough about you to offer personalized advice.
Is this kind of thing better than nothing? I remain to be convinced.
