A NEW drive to tackle obesity by displaying calorie counts on restaurant menus has been branded a “step backwards”. 

Restaurants with more than 250 staff members will have to follow the latest law and ensure menus are marked with calories to allow diners to make healthier choices. 

This has raised concerns with healthcare professionals, with many arguing it will be detrimental to those suffering or recovering from eating disorders. 

Latest statistics from The Health Survey for England 2019 showed that 28 per cent of adults in England are obese and 36.2 per cent are classed as overweight.

Tahira Amin, a dietician from Bradford said the move was a “step backward” in the fight to tackle obesity. She argued the Government hasn’t put enough consideration and thought into the new approach.

She said: “It’s going to have a negative impact on those suffering and recovering from eating disorders as it puts pressure on people. 

“Eating healthily isn’t about calories more so it’s about portion size and making sure you’re getting enough of each food group. 

“It’s easy for people to get fixated on calories and that’s unhealthy because they don’t tell the whole story.

“This will damage young vulnerable people who are already self-conscious about what they’re eating.”

While putting calories on dishes may push people to make healthier choices it can also lead to people being shamed for the choices they have made, which could result in guilt over what they have eaten. 

She added: “When people go out to eat, they want to enjoy themselves whether they’re with friends or family, and if we slap calories on the menu, it could take the fun out of the meal. 

“I think the Government has picked this initiative at random and not really looked at the scale of the problem.

“The best way to reduce obesity is to make healthy meals cheaper.”


A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Clear food labelling plays an important role in helping people make healthier choices for themselves and their family.

“The regulations allow businesses to provide menus without calorie information at the request of the customer.

"This means people who find viewing calorie information more difficult may be able to avoid this information when dining with businesses who can provide a menu without calorie labelling.”