THE FUSE

Eating disorders are among the most deadly mental health conditions, particularly for youth. It has been estimated that someone dies from an eating disorder-related issue once every 52 minutes (Deloitte Access Economics, 2020). Despite this, many eating disorders go untreated, with 20 to 25 percent of people never receiving professional care for their symptoms (Solmi et al., 2024). In conjunction with mental health professionals, artificial intelligence (AI) could, in theory, help meet this need by providing accessible, low-cost therapeutic guidance until professional help is available. But a growing body of research suggests that, currently, AI is nearly as likely to cause harm for those with an eating disorder as it is to help provide effective care or prevention.