Eat just 1,800 calories a day, say official guidelines

Meal limits aimed at tackling obesity branded ‘panic measures’

BRITONS are being told to drastically cut their daily calories by public health experts.

They are urged to limit themselves to only 400 calories for breakfast, 600 calories for lunch and 600 calories for dinner.

The new guidelines also allow for up to two healthy snacks a day, which should ideally not exceed 100 calories each.

This comes to 1,800 calories – well below the recommended daily intake of 2,000 calories for women and 2,500 calories for men.

Officials say the average adult is overeating by 300 calories a day and this so-called ‘calorie creep’ is leading to steady weight gain.

The advice has been drawn up by experts as a basic ‘rule of thumb’. The calorie guidelines are the same for both sexes – even though men need more – to keep them as simple as possible.

The public will be urged to be particularly cautious at sandwich chains, coffee shops and restaurants, where portion sizes tend to be substantially larger.

Almost two-thirds of adults in the UK are overweight or obese, and this rate is worse than that of any other country in Western Europe.

The UK Government has been heavily criticised for failing to address the crisis, and its longawaited obesity strategy last year was branded an ‘embarrassment’.

The plan had only voluntary agreements with food manufacturers to cut sugar levels and portion sizes, and there was no mention of controls on advertising.

In Scotland, the SNP announced plans in October for ‘bold measures’ to cut the amount of fatty and sugary foods and drinks being bought. A ban is being sought on junk food adverts on television before the 9pm watershed. Public health minister Aileen Campbell said much personal choice was taken away from shoppers because they are ‘influenced through marketing and special offers’.

A consultation is running until the end of next month.

The new official calorie guidelines will be rolled out in March – known as the One You Nutrition campaign – and adults will be told to remember the ‘400-600600’ rule.

Many popular meal choices fall outside the limits – a large bowl of granola for breakfast has 500 calories, while a muffin and latte has 600 calories. A ‘meal deal’ lunch of a sandwich, crisps and fizzy drink has an average 700 calories, while an Indian takeaway can contain 1,300 calories.

Public Health England, which drew up the guidelines, said: ‘Adults currently consume 200 to 300 excess calories each day and this “calorie creep” is contributing to weight gain and other serious health conditions.’

Many Britons will have overindulged over the festive period – the average adult eats 5,000 calories on Christmas Day alone.

Officials purposely set the guidelines below the recommended intake as they suspect adults will underestimate their calorie intake and fail to account for drinks such as lattes and alcohol.

Experts said the guidelines were meant to be a ‘rule of thumb’ to help the public reduce their calorie consumption.

National Obesity Forum chairman Tam Fry said: ‘This is a panic measure to get the public to understand they are eating too much. Portion sizes are getting bigger and bigger and people are mindlessly eating them.

‘The idea is sound because we are eating too much but my feeling is the thresholds are too low.’

Figures show that 71 per cent of people aged 45 to 54 are overweight or obese, while 25 per cent have high blood pressure and 19 per cent do almost no exercise.

They are much more susceptible to diabetes, several types of cancer, heart disease, strokes, liver failure and dementia.

The campaign comes two years after Government alcohol guidelines said men and women should drink no more than 14 units a week – seven pints of beer or seven medium glasses of wine.

‘Portion sizes are getting bigger’