Calorie labels on restaurant menus ‘is concern for people with eating disorders’

Academics have called for more research into whether calorie labels are viewed positively or negatively, and if they could potentially reinforce eating disorders. Picture: Martin Keene/PA Wire

The negative impact of calorie-labelled menus in restaurants on those with restrictive eating disorders is a "cause for concern", a study suggests.

It comes as evidence collected as part of a review found people with eating disorders change their behaviour when presented with calorie-labelled menus and opt for lower calorie dishes.

Academics have called for more research into whether calorie labels are viewed positively or negatively, and if they could potentially reinforce eating disorders.

It follows a separate review, published earlier this month, which showed calorie labels in supermarkets, restaurants and other food outlets has a "small but potentially meaningful effect" on food choices.

For the review, published in BMJ Public Health, researchers looked at 16 studies from the US, Canada, UK and Saudi Arabia which included a total of 8,074 people.

While most experimental studies "showed no differences between menus with or without calories on disordered eating or body image concerns", researchers said people with current eating disorders "changed their behaviours if presented menus with calorie labels".

They added: "Thus, 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.

"Findings from cross-sectional studies support this, whereby eating pathology was positively associated with noticing calorie labels and changing behaviour to select lower calorie options."

The review found evidence that suggests there is a "cause for concern regarding negative impacts, particularly for those with restrictive eating disorders" and called for further research.

It highlights that "few studies focused specifically on individuals with eating disorders and no broader impacts on mental health were examined", with more needed to understand whether calorie labels are viewed positively or negatively, and whether they could potentially reinforce or perpetuate eating disorders.

Co-author Dr Nora Trompeter, a research fellow at University College London, said: "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," she added.

"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."

Earlier this month, a new Cochrane review found calorie labelling has a "small but potentially meaningful effect on people's food choices".

Experts looked at evidence from 25 studies involving more than 10,000 people from high-income countries including Canada, France, the UK and the US.

They found that calorie labels in supermarkets, restaurants and other food outlets led to an average reduction in the calories people selected and purchased of 1.8% - equating to 11 calories in a 600 calorie meal, or around two almonds.

However, these small daily changes could have meaningful effects if sustained long term, and most adults tended to gain weight as they aged, according to the review.