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Brits Eat More Calories Than They Report
ShareBrits Eat More Calories Than They Report
British people are eating far more than they admit, says new health research. In fact, the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) says our tendency to under-report our calorie consumption could negatively sway health campaigns and research.Apparently, we’re eating around 3000 calories a day, although official surveys say it’s far less at 2000 calories a day. So while data says we’re eating less as time goes on, this could explain why, in fact, obesity rates are rising with our waistlines.
Health surveys getting it wrong
Let’s look at two surveys in particular – the National Diet and Nutrition Survey, and the Living Costs and Food Survey. Both suggest we buy and eat less food than in previous decades. And yet we’re getting fatter.On the flipside, several leading scientific studies have used chemical analysis to measure how much energy people burn each day. And those studies say we eat around 1000 more calories each day than official government surveys.
So why is there such a discrepancy?
BIT believes it could be a number of reasons. Firstly, it’s tricky to track food intake including snacks. We may also want to appear healthier than we are, hence under-reporting our intake. And there are fewer people participating in the national surveys than in the past.What can be done to close the gap?
Researchers recommend the government promote lowering calorie intake, rather than solely focusing on physical exercise. As lead researcher Michael Hallsworth told the BBC: "Anyone who has been on a treadmill will know what it feels like to look down and see you have burned far fewer calories than you expected. Physical activity is good for your health and heart but reducing calories is a more effective strategy to combat obesity."
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