title: Calorie estimation accuracy and menu labeling perceptions among individuals with and without binge eating and/or purging disorders.
abstract: Menu labeling is a public health policy that requires chain restaurants in the USA to post kilocalorie information on their menus to help consumers make informed choices. However, there is concern that such a policy might promote disordered eating. This web-based study compared individuals with self-reported binge eating disorder (N = 52), bulimia nervosa (N = 25), and purging disorder (N = 17) and those without eating disorders (No ED) (N = 277) on restaurant calorie information knowledge and perceptions of menu labeling legislation. On average, people answered 1.46 ± 1.08 questions correctly (out of 6) (25%) on a calorie information quiz and 92% of the sample was in favor of menu labeling. The findings did not differ based on eating disorder, dieting, or weight status, or race/ethnicity. The results indicated that people have difficulty estimating the calories in restaurant meals and individuals with and without eating disorders are largely in favor of menu labeling laws.
authors.affiliation: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health & Society Scholar, Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, 9 Bow Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA, croberto@hsph.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Christina A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Roberto
authors.forename: Ann F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Haynos
authors.forename: Marlene B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Kelly D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Brownell
authors.forename: Marney A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D001835:Body Weight; D002032:Bulimia / Q000523:psychology*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D012147:Restaurants; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult