Calorie-Free Menus as a Potential Mitigation Strategy for Mandatory Calorie Labelling: Evidence From People With...

Area of Science:

• Public Health Nutrition
• Eating Disorders Research
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Mandatory out-of-home calorie labelling in England raises concerns for individuals with disordered eating.
• Calorie-free menus are available but their use and impact among this population remain unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the use and impact of calorie-free menus among individuals with lived experience of disordered eating in England.
• To identify barriers and facilitators to accessing and using calorie-free menus.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional mixed methods study involving 1001 participants aged 16+ with lived experience of disordered eating.
• Quantitative analysis of menu request patterns, focusing on 644 participants reporting negative impacts of calorie labels.
• Qualitative analysis of barriers, social discomfort, and experiences with calorie-free menus.

Main Results:

• Most participants (63.88%) did not request calorie-free menus, even those negatively impacted by calorie labels (53.57%).
• Higher clinical impairment, current compensatory behaviours, comorbid disorders, and prior eating disorder treatment were associated with increased menu use.
• Qualitative data revealed practical and social barriers, alongside positive experiences from those who used the menus.

Conclusions:

• Calorie-free menus offer potential benefits for individuals with disordered eating.
• Addressing practical and social barriers is crucial to enhance the dining experiences of people with disordered eating in the out-of-home sector.