In 2022 in establishments of over 250 employees, it became mandatory for restaurants, cafes, takeaways to display the calories of dishes on their menus. This caused quite a stir at the time and numerous headlines and articles focused on the damage this could provide in relation to eating disorders and disordered eating. Alongside the numbers alongside dishes there is often the recommendations that ‘adults require 2000kcal per day’. This webinar focuses on how useful this calorie signage is, and whether we are missing some valuable opportunities.

Key points from the webinar:

• Where does 2000kcal come from and who does it relate to? Well it turns out that this is far too low for most adults.
• Can we replace the recommendation of 2000kcal per day with a personalised energy predication calculator so the individual can assess how many calories they require relating to their lifestyle and exercise?
• However, there are so many variable and factors that can affect our RMR (resting metabolic rate) and NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis), so even if we calculated this, this number will still be an estimation.
• Are we just in fact missing an educational opportunity? Is there better information that we could be displaying in place of calorie signage?
• Is just having the overall calorie amount that helpful? What about consider what balance of macronutrients or other health benefits.

This thought-provoking webinar looks at what could be introduced and what opportunities could be taken by educating the public rather than just placing overall calorie intake. Please give the webinar a watch and let us know your thoughts.

Thank you to our wonderful host Dr Tilly Spurr, a sports nutritionist and lecturer at the University of Chichester.

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