In July this year, I decided to lose a bit of weight to improve my overall health. I’d just been diagnosed with PCOS and a life-threatening gallbladder disease, so it felt like the right decision at the time.

Prioritising my health over aesthetics while embarking on a ‘weight loss journey’ wasn’t something I’d done before – it made me feel empowered, as if I was actually taking control of my health and doing it sensibly, rather than crash-dieting or comparing myself to other people.

Sadly, though, I found it impossible not to fall victim to 2020s diet culture - a slightly more insidious and digitally-dominated form of the weight-loss ‘trends’ we endured in the 2000s.

I constantly compared myself to slimmer friends; wondering if I’d have a bit more confidence if I just lost another 10lbs. I’d stay up until 2am sometimes, endlessly scrolling through TikTok and despairing at my upper arms, thighs and the way my tummy has a slight overhang.

I’m a bit ashamed to admit that just six weeks after I underwent gallbladder removal surgery in June (2025), I was back at the gym, lifting weights and doing high-intensity cardio. I was a little worried about the month-and-a-half I’d spent on the sofa (you know, letting my body recover) and every negative comment I’d previously heard about my weight began floating around in my brain like the bouncing DVD logo.

It was during this period I turned to ChatGPT for the first time, asking it to give me advice on how to stay slim after surgery. My advice-seeking soon turned into full-blown body-checking - addicted to the bot telling me exactly what I wanted to hear.

Worryingly, I’m not alone. Eating disorder charity Beat revealed to me last week (5th November) that a number of people have spoken with helpline operators about AI websites like ChatGPT. Some calls have mentioned talking to AI about body image concerns in lieu of seeking help from a GP or therapist; as well as sending photos to ChatGPT and asking it to guess their weight.

The charity has expressed concerns that AI misuse can fuel harmful, eating........

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