To say that chatbots are having a moment in the health and fitness community would be an understatement. These interactive digital assistants have been proven to help people find health-related information, manage their depression, and even get more active by playing games with them. It was only a matter of time before someone developed a chatbot that could help people struggling with eating disorders.
What is a chatbot?
A chatbot is an artificial intelligence agent or program designed to interact with human users via auditory or textual methods. It is a conversational agent that’s able to understand natural language input, and perform tasks as instructed by users. Facebook Messenger now has its own bot platform (similar to Apple’s Siri), which allows you to use services without having to launch an app or navigate a website. Just start a conversation in Messenger with one of Facebook’s bots. These bots are powered by artificial intelligence technology and human operators that can scale based on customer demand. Here’s how it works: Let’s say you want your grocery list saved for later – just tap on that button in FB Messenger and tell it what items you need to pick up at CVS when you’re on your way home from work.
How this Chatbot Works?
The chatbot is intended to support people with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa (or those who think they might have one of these conditions) by moderating online conversations between them and their friends. People with ED can continue to access treatment through their existing healthcare provider, but often find it difficult to discuss food and body image issues openly with others. They may also be reluctant to seek out support for fear of stigma or judgement from their peers. In addition, healthcare professionals may find it challenging to recognize signs of ED in patients who don’t fit certain expectations about what someone suffering from an eating disorder should look like. The chatbot supports a variety of different communication strategies and can also assist in identifying warning signs.
How it can help in preventing eating disorders?
The chatbot first helps people recognize and understand their condition, which can lead to them seeking professional treatment. Based on that data and any other factors (such as information about eating habits), it then compiles diet tips that would be relevant to an individual. For example, if a person goes on-and-off diets frequently or has yo-yoed weight before in her life, it might recommend a gradual approach. If another user is primarily concerned with being skinny rather than maintaining health levels (e.g., someone at risk of bulimia), it might suggest more drastic measures like fasting or following only low-calorie meal plans.
