Now ‘mental health experts’ call for crackdown on calorie and nutrition labels because people with eating disorders can find them stressful
Calorie labels on restaurant menus are ‘triggering’ for people with eating disorders, experts say.
In the first review of its kind, researchers at King’s College London found calorie information prompted problematic thoughts for sufferers while others avoided restaurants altogether.
It comes just weeks after a Cochrane review found the anti-obesity measure only reduced calorie intake by the equivalent of two almonds, suggesting they do more harm than good.
Critics said it was further proof they ‘don’t help anyone’ and ‘can worsen feelings of anxiety and stress’ in vulnerable people.
Researchers looked at 16 studies involving more than 8,000 people from the UK, US, Canada and Saudi Arabia, which have similar systems in place.
They found they had little effect in general but those with current eating disorders ‘changed their behaviours if presented menus with calorie labels’, causing some to pick lower-calorie options.
Many said seeing these calorie labels ‘reinforced their eating disorder beliefs’.
The authors wrote: ‘Behavioural changes and impacts on eating pathology may not be observed in the general population and appear to be specific to those with eating disorders.
In the first review of its kind, researchers at King’s College London found calorie information prompted problematic thoughts for sufferers while others avoided restaurants altogether (stock image)
Calorie labels on restaurant menus are ‘triggering’ for people with eating disorders, experts say (stock image)
The review found evidence there is a ‘cause for concern regarding negative impacts, particularly for those with restrictive eating disorders’ and urged further research.
Few studies focused specifically on individuals with eating disorders and no broader impacts on mental health were examined, according to the findings published in BMJ Public Health.
Senior author Dr Tom Jewell, a mental health lecturer 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.’
The measure was introduced by the Government to restaurants, takeaways and cafes with more than 250 staff in 2022.
Tom Quinn, of eating disorder charity Beat, said going out for meals is also an integral part recovery and having calories on display can keep people unwell for longer.
He said: ‘This vital research adds to a growing bank of evidence: calorie labelling on menus doesn’t help anyone.
‘People with eating disorders are harmed, and the general population see such a negligible benefit that it can’t be justified as an effective health policy.
‘For those with eating disorders, calorie labelling can worsen feelings of anxiety and stress and lead to harmful behaviours such as binge eating, exercising excessively or restricting food.’
