The decision to shelve plans for calorie counts in Irish restaurant menus highlight the Government’s “complete inaction” on the obesity crisis, according to a hospital consultant.
The menu counters were due to be introduced as part of the national obesity action plan in 2019; however, the proposal was shelved during the pandemic and the Department of Health has said there are no plans to reintroduce it.
At the time, the ESRI published research showing that diners ordered slightly lower calories when they could see the figures in front of them.
Despite the findings, restaurants and nutritionists questioned whether it was healthy to focus so heavily on calories, without considering overall nutritional content.
On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Professor Helen Heneghan, Consultant Bariatric Surgeon at St James’s Hospital said the decision to shelve the plan is ‘very disappointing’.
“I recognise the concerns that the restaurant industry and groups representing people with eating disorders would have but nonetheless, there is enough evidence that suggests that giving calorie details on menus is a very effective way of encouraging people to choose a healthier option,” she said.
“People have that choice to see it or not and then make their choices around that, but it is a way of educating the public regarding their food choices and their calorie intake and that has been proven to be very beneficial.”
Obesity Policy and Action Plan
She said the decision highlights the Governments complete inaction on the 2016 Obesity Policy and Action Plan, which includes 21 measures aimed at addressing the obesity crisis.
“If one of these first measures to be introduced hasn’t been by 2022, it reflects the Government have no real will to act on it,” she said.
Professor Heneghan said her biggest concern now is that the rest of the plan will not be rolled out.
“This is a small measure that on its own won’t do enough to address obesity, but it just reflects complete government inaction and as I said a lack of commitment to implementing other measures which may be more effective,” she said.
Funding
Professor Heneghan said the action plan includes funding for obesity treatments – including weight management teams, weight management services and funding for bariatric surgery.
“That follow-through on the plan, just like this policy, hasn’t happened,” she said.
“It is really worrying because people will take this into their own hands. We have talked before about people going abroad for surgery and coming back with lots of problems
“People can’t do this on their own and they need well-funded services in place across the country to make access to treatment plans more equitable and available to people.”
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