Scientists from the University of Liverpool found that indicating the calorie content of dishes on restaurant menus can significantly reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the population. results published In the journal Lancet Public Health.
During the research, British scientists identified a correlation between the decrease in the number of deaths from cardiovascular diseases and the introduction in the UK of a law on mandatory calorie labeling of dishes in the menus of large public catering establishments. The measure came into force in April 2022 as part of the government’s national strategy to combat obesity.
By law, all UK catering businesses with 250 or more employees were required to display the calorie content of all food items on their menus. Scientists estimate that this measure prevented approximately 830 thousand deaths from cardiovascular diseases.
According to the researchers, this effect was associated with people’s increased awareness of the calories they consume and the emergence of healthy eating habits among the population that reduce the risk of obesity. Preventing obesity has helped reduce the likelihood of cardiovascular diseases among citizens.
Extending the law on mandatory indication of the calorie content of dishes to all businesses (regardless of the number of employees) would potentially further protect more than 9,200 people from these dangerous diseases, the scientists added.
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