Getty ImagesPutting calories on food labels and menus is “not a silver bullet,” say researchers who have analyzed the best evidence to date on the effectiveness of the policy.
Review of 25 studies A study of calorie labels in a number of countries found a small reduction in the calories people choose to eat – the equivalent of two almonds – but even this modest effect can help prevent adults from gaining weight as they age.
New rules for calorie labeling It came into force in England in 2022 As part of the government’s plans to encourage people to make healthy choices.
The government said it would continue to assess the impact, including on people with eating disorders.
Restaurants, cafes and takeaways with more than 250 staff must now show the number of calories in meals on their menus.
For Imara, a 27-year-old HR assistant from Birmingham, the change has been a positive part of her weight-loss journey.
“This means I’ve been able to stay on track, stay within a calorie deficit, still enjoy a nice meal with friends, or with my husband, and still have a good time and not worry about getting off track.
“Sometimes I just eat a meal and don’t think about the calories,” she says.
“But if I want to stay on track for a day or a week, I’ll look at calories and see if that thing fits in with my goals.”
The research looked at studies on the impact of calorie labels in supermarkets, restaurants and other food outlets in countries including the US, UK, Canada and France.
In a 600-calorie meal, she found an average reduction of 11 calories (or 1.8%) in the food people chose and bought.
Lead researcher Dr Gareth Hollands, from University College London, said there was a “small but potentially meaningful effect on people’s food choices” but “we should not expect miracles”.
He said calorie labeling “may have a beneficial role” along with other measures, such as taxes on food and drinks, marketing restrictions and reformulation, causing manufacturers to modify recipes of food products to make them healthier.
Dr Natasha Clarke from Bath Spa University, who started the project at the University of Cambridge, says the evidence is “strong”.
As calorie labeling becomes more widespread, the effect could make a “meaningful contribution” to public health.
‘A toxic way of looking at food’
Millie GoldsmithHowever, charities say the policy could make people with eating disorders feel more anxious about food, which could lead to relapse.
Millie Goldsmith, 27, a lifestyle influencer from London, suffered from anorexia nervosa and body dysmorphia from the ages of 13 to 18.
She says counting calories is what “fuels” her eating disorder.
“I really feel like this is just reinforcing eating habits and making it a really toxic way of looking at food.”
Although Millie is in recovery, she describes the constant battle between her “eating disorder brain” and her “rational mind” to not focus on the calories in her meals.
The review acknowledged there was a “lack of data” on potential harms including effects on mental health, and the authors recommended future research to evaluate this.
To encourage healthy eating, the government has already announced plans to ban junk food advertising on TV and online in England, along with calorie labeling.
This is part of a broader plan to address high rates obesity.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We have also given local authorities stronger powers to block unhealthy fast food orders near schools, to prevent fast food giants targeting pupils.”
The Scottish Government is consulting on whether restaurants and cafes should display calorie levels.