Calorie counts on menus may be harming those with eating disorders, study finds
Calorie labels on restaurant menus may be having a harmful impact on individuals with eating disorders, according to a new study published in BMJ Public Health.
Researchers at King’s College London conducted the first review of its kind, revealing that people diagnosed with an eating disorder altered their behavior when presented with calorie-labeled menus. Some avoided dining out altogether, while others reported heightened focus on calorie counts, as confirmed by eye-tracking research.
The study also found that for some individuals, seeing calorie labels reinforced disordered eating beliefs, further worsening their condition.
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The study examined existing research to better understand how nutritional labels on menus affect individuals with lived experiences of eating disorders or disordered eating. Reviewing 16 studies from the UK, US, Canada, and Saudi Arabia, researchers analysed data from a total of 8,074 participants.
Findings suggest that some individuals with eating disorders feel their struggles are overlooked in the push for obesity prevention policies. Experts argue that physical health cannot be reduced to a single measure like weight and that calorie labels may be an overly simplistic solution to a complex issue, one that could leave those with eating disorders at a disadvantage.
Calorie labeling laws came into effect in England in 2022, requiring restaurants, takeaways, and cafés with 250 or more employees to display calorie counts on menus, online listings, and takeaway platforms.
The policy was introduced as part of efforts to tackle rising obesity rates. Similar regulations are in place in the United States and Canada, yet few obesity-focused policies have accounted for their potential impact on individuals with eating disorders.
According to the eating disorder charity Beat, at least 1.25million people in the UK are affected by an eating disorder. Hospital admissions for these conditions have been steadily rising, increasing by approximately seven per cent each year since 2005-2006.
Senior author Dr Tom Jewell, Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing at King’s College London, said: “Our study highlights that people with lived experience of eating disorders are frustrated at being left out of the conversation around calorie labels.
“Striking a balance between the positive and harmful impacts of calorie labels on menus is vital in any public health policies. Policymakers should consider the impact on both obesity and eating disorders when making decisions about nutrition labelling.
"A recent review found that calorie labelling has a modest effect on people’s behaviour but this needs to be counterbalanced with the potential harm it does for people with eating disorders.”
Co-author Dr Nora Trompeter, Research Fellow University College London, said: “Our study provides an important addition to the evidence base around calorie labels. Typically, there is a lot of focus on whether policies are effective in reducing obesity, but it is also critical to investigate whether these policies inadvertently harm people with eating disorders.
!Our review also shows that more research is needed to fully understand the impact of calorie labels on individuals with eating disorders. For example, none of the studies included young people.”
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