TY - JOUR T1 - ChatGPT and High School Students' Eating Habits: Benefits, Risks, and Insights from a Cross-Sectional Study AU - Stoyanova, Rumyana AU - Shopov, Dimitar AU - Indjian, Krikor AU - Dimova, Rositsa PY - 2024 DA - July Y2 - 2024 DO - 10.55549/epstem.1518439 JF - The Eurasia Proceedings of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics JO - EPSTEM PB - ISRES Publishing WT - DergiPark SN - 2602-3199 SP - 130 EP - 135 VL - 27 LA - en AB - This study investigated the eating behavior of high school students and the impact of ChatGPT on it, based on a survey of 315 adolescents aged 15-19 years in the district of Haskovo, Bulgaria. Survey results highlight significant concerns among participants related to body image, with 18.1% expressing dissatisfaction and 24.8% aspiring to achieve a thinner physique. Anxious eating patterns, such as vomiting after meals and using laxatives, were reported in 10.5% of respondents. The following factors associated with body image dissatisfaction were identified referring to eating disorders factors, fear of weight gain, alterations in eating habits, and emotional distress. The study revealed that 31.4% of participants were used to getting information on healthy eating from the Internet, including ChatGPT, while only 10.5% were used to consulting their general practitioner (GP). While ChatGPT certainly demonstrates its value by delivering personalized nutritional guidance and fostering a positive body image through respectful language, caution is essential due to potential risks. Concerns include the possibility of misinformation, as users might solely rely on ChatGPT without crossreferencing information from reliable sources. Unintentional contributions to unrealistic beauty standards and a lack of content personalization are additional considerations. In conclusion, ChatGPT can serve as a reliable tool to guide high school students to a healthier lifestyle. However, reasonable usage is very important. Stakeholders in education should encourage critical thinking, advocate for fact-checking, and promote a balanced approach to leverage both the benefits and potential risks associated with AI-generated content on health and nutrition. KW - ChatGPT KW - Artificial Intelligence KW - Eating behavior KW - Eating disorders CR - Stoyanova, R., Shopov, D., Indjian, K., & Dimova, R. (2024). ChatGPT and high school students' eating habits: benefits, risks, and insights from a cross-sectional study. The Eurasia Proceedings of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (EPSTEM), 27, 130-135. UR - https://doi.org/10.55549/epstem.1518439 L1 - https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/4080215 ER -