Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2018 Mar;118(3):399-408.
doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2017.11.007. Epub 2018 Jan 8.

Calorie Labels on the Restaurant Menu: Is the Use of Weight-Control Behaviors Related to Ordering Decisions?

Nicole Larson, Ann F Haynos, Christina A Roberto, Katie A Loth, Dianne Neumark-Sztainer

Calorie Labels on the Restaurant Menu: Is the Use of Weight-Control Behaviors Related to Ordering Decisions?

Nicole Larson et al. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2018 Mar.

Abstract

Background: There is emerging evidence that calorie information on restaurant menus does not similarly influence the ordering decisions of all population groups and may have unintended consequences for individuals who struggle with disordered eating or other weight-related concerns.

Objective: This study describes demographic patterns in the use of calorie information on restaurant menus and investigates relationships between using this information to limit calorie intake and measures of restaurant visit frequency and weight-related concerns and behavior.

Design/participants: There were 788 men and 1042 women (mean age=31.0±1.6 years) who participated in the fourth wave of the Project EAT study. Participants were initially recruited from Minneapolis-St Paul, MN, schools and completed EAT-IV surveys online or by mail from 2015 to 2016.

Main outcome measures: Participants self-reported weight-related concerns, restaurant eating, intuitive eating, dieting, healthy (eg, exercise) and unhealthy (eg, use of laxatives) weight-control behaviors, and binge eating.

Statistical analyses performed: Descriptive statistics and linear and logistic regression models accounting for demographics and weight status.

Results: Approximately half of participants (52.7%) reported they had noticed calorie information while purchasing a meal or snack in a restaurant within the previous month. Among individuals who noticed calorie information, 38.2% reported they did not use it in deciding what to order. The most common use of calorie information was to avoid high-calorie menu items (50.1%) or to decide on a smaller portion (20.2%). Using menu labels to limit calories was related to binge eating among women and was associated with more weight-related concerns, dieting, and unhealthy weight-control behaviors among both women and men.

Conclusions: Nutrition educators and other health care professionals should talk with clients who struggle with disordered eating or weight-related concerns to learn about their use of calorie information at restaurants, address any potential unintended consequences, and promote healthy uses of calorie information.

Keywords: Binge eating; Dieting; Menu labeling; Restaurants; Weight control.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest disclosure: The authors have no conflicts of interest to report.

References

    1. Gortmaker S, Wang Y, Long M, et al. Three interventions that reduce childhood obesity are projected to save more than they cost to implement. Health Aff. 2015;34(11):1932–1939. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Sinclair S, Cooper M, Mansfield E. The influence of menu labeling on calories selected or consumed: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2014;114(9):1375–1388. - PubMed
    1. Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health and Human Services. Food labeling: nutrition labeling of standard menu items in restaurants and similar retail food establishments; extension of compliance date; request for comments. 82 FR 20825: Federal Register. 2017:20825–20829.
    1. VanEpps E, Roberto C, Park S, Economos C, Bleich S. Restaurant menu labeling policy: review of evidence and controversies. Curr Obes Rep. 2016;5(1):72–80. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bleich S, Wolfson J, Jarlenski M. Calorie changes in large chain restaurants from 2008 to 2015. Prev Med. 2017;100:112–116. - PubMed

Publication types