AI in Mental Health: Transforming Eating Disorder Treatment in 2025 -

Legal & Regulation

March 15, 2025

AI in Mental Health: Transforming Eating Disorder Treatment in 2025

The integration of artificial intelligence into healthcare has been steadily growing, but perhaps nowhere is its potential more promising—and its challenges more nuanced—than in mental health treatment. Particularly for conditions like eating disorders, which affect millions worldwide and have the second-highest mortality rate among mental illnesses for young people, AI offers new pathways for treatment, monitoring, and support.

The Current Landscape of AI in Mental Health

The mental health sector is experiencing rapid technological transformation. According to Insight Ace Analytics, the global AI in mental health market was valued at approximately $0.92 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $14.89 billion by 2033, growing at an impressive CAGR of 32.1%. This exponential growth reflects both the increasing acceptance of AI tools and their proven effectiveness in certain applications.

Perhaps even more striking is the prediction that by 2032, 99% of mental health professionals will be using AI tools in their practice, according to data compiled by Nikola Roza. The same source reports that mental health chatbots and virtual therapists have seen a 320% growth from 2020 to 2022, demonstrating the accelerating adoption of these technologies.

Spotlight on Eating Disorders: A Critical Need

Eating disorders represent a severe health emergency with devastating consequences. In Italy alone, over 3 million people live with eating disorders, and in 2023, there were 3,780 related deaths, making it the second leading cause of death among young people after traffic accidents, according to a recent news report.

The traditional approaches to eating disorder treatment face significant challenges:

Limited accessibility to specialized care
High treatment costs
Stigma preventing people from seeking help
Difficulty monitoring patients between sessions
High dropout rates from treatment programs

These challenges create a critical need for innovative solutions—which is precisely where AI enters the picture.

AI Innovations in Eating Disorder Treatment

mySMART Diary: A Case Study in AI-Assisted Treatment

One of the most promising recent developments is the mySMART Diary web application, developed by the Fondazione per la Sostenibilità Digitale in collaboration with Microsoft Italia and Almawave. This cutting-edge tool, set to launch after Ramadan 2025, demonstrates how AI can transform eating disorder treatment.

The platform centers around a digital food diary where patients record not just what they eat, but also their emotional states and triggering events. What makes this system revolutionary is its AI component, which analyzes this data and suggests personalized content to stimulate reflection and awareness.

According to Stefano Epifani, president of the Fondazione per la Sostenibilità Digitale, “The goal is to promote the use of digital technologies to address mental health challenges.” The system allows therapists to better understand patients’ emotional dynamics and personalize treatment plans accordingly.

Key Features of AI-Assisted Eating Disorder Treatment

Based on emerging platforms like mySMART Diary and research in the field, AI-assisted treatment for eating disorders offers several key advantages:

Real-time Monitoring: AI can track patterns in eating behaviors, emotional states, and potential triggers between therapy sessions.
Personalized Support: By analyzing individual data, AI can offer tailored interventions and suggestions specific to each patient’s needs.
Increased Accessibility: Digital platforms reduce geographical barriers to specialized care and may decrease stigma through anonymous access.
Enhanced Therapist Insights: AI analysis provides therapists with deeper understanding of patients’ emotional dynamics and behavior patterns.
Early Intervention: Predictive analytics can potentially identify warning signs before a full relapse occurs.

The Ethical Dimension: Balancing Innovation with Safety

Despite its promise, the integration of AI into mental health treatment—particularly for vulnerable populations like those with eating disorders—raises significant ethical questions that must be addressed.

A study published in PMC highlights several ethical considerations, including:

Algorithmic Accountability: Who is responsible when AI makes a recommendation that leads to harm?
Privacy Concerns: How is sensitive mental health data being stored, processed, and protected?
Risk of Overmedicalization: Could AI systems pathologize normal behaviors or emotions?
Lack of Human Empathy: Can AI truly understand the complex emotional aspects of eating disorders?

A particularly concerning incident mentioned in research involved a chatbot providing harmful weight loss tips, underscoring the need for robust ethical guidelines and safety measures.

Legislative Response: Illinois Takes Action

The concerns around AI in mental health aren’t just theoretical—they’re beginning to shape policy. In Illinois, lawmakers are taking proactive steps to regulate AI use in healthcare, including mental health services.

According to Chicago Business, Representative Bob Morgan is sponsoring two bills that would place restrictions on AI use in mental health services. One bill would prohibit licensed mental health professionals from using AI to assist in providing support during therapy sessions without proper disclosure and oversight.

Morgan explains the rationale: “The introduction of AI into mental health care presents pretty obvious but certainly serious risks that can lead to dangerous, even life-threatening consequences. AI does not have the ability to exercise ethical judgment or recognize when a person is in crisis, or adapt responses based on non-verbal cues and emotional tone—all the things that we’re training our healthcare professionals to identify.”

This legislative approach reflects growing awareness that while AI offers tremendous potential, it requires thoughtful regulation to ensure patient safety.

What This Means For You

For Individuals with Eating Disorders

If you’re struggling with an eating disorder, AI-assisted tools may offer new options for support, but they should complement, not replace, professional care:

Consider Digital Support: Apps and platforms with proper clinical backing may provide additional support between therapy sessions.
Prioritize Human Connection: The most effective treatment still involves human therapists who can provide empathy and nuanced understanding.
Ask Questions: If your provider uses AI tools, ask about how they work, what data they collect, and how that information is protected.
Be Cautious: Avoid tools that don’t clearly disclose AI involvement or lack clinical validation.

For Healthcare Providers

Mental health professionals considering AI integration should:

Evaluate Evidence: Look for tools with strong clinical validation specific to eating disorders.
Maintain Oversight: Use AI as an assistant, not a replacement for clinical judgment.
Stay Informed: Keep up with rapidly evolving research and regulations in this space.
Consider Ethics: Develop clear protocols for managing privacy, consent, and crisis situations.

The Future of AI in Eating Disorder Treatment

Looking ahead, several trends are likely to shape the evolution of AI in eating disorder treatment:

Multimodal AI: Future systems may incorporate voice analysis, facial recognition, and other inputs to better detect emotional states and warning signs.
Personalized Treatment Algorithms: As data accumulates, AI may help identify which treatments work best for specific types of patients.
Integration with Wearables: Combining AI with biometric data from wearable devices could provide more comprehensive monitoring.
Regulatory Frameworks: Expect more specific guidelines and regulations governing AI use in mental health treatment.
Hybrid Care Models: The most effective approaches will likely combine AI-powered tools with traditional human therapy in thoughtfully designed treatment programs.

Getting Started: Navigating AI-Assisted Mental Health Support

If you’re interested in exploring AI-assisted support for eating disorders, here are some practical steps:

Consult Your Healthcare Provider: Discuss whether AI-assisted tools might be appropriate for your situation.
Research Validated Options: Look for platforms that have been clinically validated specifically for eating disorders.
Check Privacy Policies: Understand how your data will be used, stored, and protected before sharing sensitive information.
Start Small: Begin with low-risk applications like mood tracking before moving to more intensive interventions.
Maintain Human Support: Ensure you still have access to human healthcare providers who can intervene if needed.

Conclusion

AI is poised to transform eating disorder treatment by improving monitoring, personalizing interventions, and increasing accessibility. However, this transformation must be guided by strong ethical principles, robust clinical evidence, and appropriate regulation.

As Stefano Epifani wisely noted regarding mySMART Diary, the goal should be “to promote the use of digital technologies to address mental health challenges”—not to replace human connection, but to enhance it. By thoughtfully integrating AI into existing treatment frameworks, we have the opportunity to create more effective, accessible, and personalized care for those struggling with eating disorders.

The coming years will be critical in determining how this technology evolves and how effectively it can be harnessed to address one of our most challenging mental health crises. With careful development, validation, and implementation, AI could become a powerful ally in the fight against eating disorders.

What are your thoughts on AI in mental health treatment? Have you had any experiences with AI-assisted healthcare? We’d love to hear your perspective in the comments, and please share this article with anyone who might benefit from this information.