Putting calories on the menu could help to cut obesity

PUTTING calories on restaurant and café menus cuts intake by around 12 per cent, research suggests.

A review led by Cambridge University found that consumers given information about the calories in each meal were likely to think twice about what they chose to eat.

Researchers examined evidence from 28 studies, and found that the best research suggested that the presence of labels cut calorie intake by around one eighth.

Next month, Public Health England will launch a campaign urging people to limit lunch and dinner to 600 calories, with 400 calories for breakfast, in an effort to help people cut back and eat healthier.

The findings suggest that the presence of labels means consumers choose healthier options, or leave more of their food on their plate.

Prof Theresa Marteau, the review’s author and director of the Behaviour and Health Research Unit at the University of Cambridge, said: “This evidence suggests that using nutritional labelling could help reduce calorie intake and make a useful impact as part of a wider set of measures aimed at tackling obesity.”