Ep. 23: AI anorexia coaches and the future of treatment

with author and journalist, Mallary Tenore Tarpley

This week, I sit down with author and journalist Mallary Tenore Tarpley for a candid conversation about eating disorders in the age of AI. With the continued rise of “SkinnyTok” on Instagram and TikTok, the internet is becoming a main character in shaping our relationship with our bodies. But what’s even more concerning is how AI is now being woven into the conversation with AI diet chatbots, and in some cases acting like anorexia coaches.

Mallary’s new book, “Slip: Life in the Middle of Eating Disorder Recovery,” details her journey through recovery from disordered eating. She shares the power of restorative narratives in shaping one’s story, and how technology can be a fantastic service but also a hindrance to the complex and non-linear recovery process.

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, you can connect with the National Eating Disorders Association at nationaleatingdisorders.org

About Mallary Tenore Tarpley:

Mallary Tenore Tarpley is a writer, author and journalism and writing professor at the University of Texas at Austin’s Moody College of Communication and McCombs School of Business. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Time, and Teen Vogue, among other publications.

Follow Mallary Tenore Tarpley on Substack @mallarytenore, Instagram at @mallarytenoretarpley and on LinkedIn.

Mallary’s  book “Slip: Life in the Middle of Eating Disorder Recovery,” is available wherever you get your books!

Check out Mallary’s piece on Teen Vogue, “AI Therapy? How Teens Are Using Chatbots for Mental Health and Eating Disorder Recovery.”