Too large portions and foods that are too sweet and too fatty. This would explain why a la carte restaurants have higher calorie meals than fast foods, according to two studies. published in the British Medical Journal December 12. Because if the nutritional content of the menus of fast food chains is already known to be mediocre, traditional restaurants would not respect public health recommendations either.
33% more calories
The first British study evaluated the calories of 13,500 dishes served in 27 British restaurant chains, including 7 fast food restaurants. On average, the main course of these contained 751 calories, while for traditional restaurants the figure climbed to 1,033 calories. In the 21 conventional establishments studied, only 11% of full services met the limit recommended by the British health agency Public Health England of 600 calories per lunch or dinner.
The second American study analyzed the calories of the most frequently ordered meals in 116 restaurants in Brazil, China, Finland, Ghana and India, comparing them with data from the United States. On average, the main course of fast food contained 809 calories, while in traditional restaurants the number reached 1317 calories – 33% more calories. Only the Chinese consumed fewer calories than the Americans. Indian meals, on the contrary, tended to contain more. In addition, only 6% of full services met the recommendations.
Display the calories of dishes
According to Eric Robinson, UK study director and lecturer in psychology at the University of Liverpool interviewed by CNN, the restaurants serve too rich meals: “Many meals contain too many calories, whether due to the size of the portions, the ingredients or the cooking methods. The biggest problem is that we live in a food environment that encourages people to eat more calories than they need ”.
“If a government is serious about reducing obesity and the number of people who die young due to poor diet and obesity, the food environment must be addressed.”, he continued. In Great Britain, a debate is being held around the possibility of obliging restaurants to display the calories contained in their dishes. This display is already respected by fast food restaurants, but it would be useless according to an American study.
The authors of the two reports specify that no definitive conclusion could be drawn from their results, from observational studies. However, they caution that their deductions might not fully reflect reality, as they did not factor in any additional drinks, appetizers, desserts, or orders.
Read also :
- Lose weight: eat at a restaurant without gaining weight
- We do not eat more balanced in restaurants than in fast food
