Weighing up the future: a meta-ethnography of household perceptions of the National Child Measurement Programme in England

Individuals with restrictive eating disorders' experience of the introduction of calories on menus in England: An interpretative phenomenological analysis study

“…The social impact of comments about weight, food and exercise have perhaps not been fully considered, and has important implications considering diet talk has been associated with body image dissatisfaction (Sharpe et al, 2013), a significant risk factor for disordered eating (Bucchianeri et al, 2016). These concerns mirror ongoing and larger discussions around unintended consequences of public health obesity strategies, notably the potential to cause harm by increasing risk of developing disordered eating (Cogan et al, 2007;Hawking et al, 2023) leading to calls for greater joint research and collaboration between the obesity and ED fields (Hay & Mitchison, 2019).…”

“…Rising obesity rates have prompted a significant increase in public health activity focused on changing individual eating and exercising behaviours (Holmes, 2021). Within this policy context, there have been concerns raised around the potential harm of such ‘obesity strategies’ on those with, or at risk of developing, an eating disorder (ED) (Bristow et al., 2022; Hawking et al., 2023). One such example is the recent Calorie Labelling (Out of Home) Regulations (2021) that came into effect in England in April 2022, which aim to ‘empower’ individuals to make ‘healthier choices’ by ensuring consumers have access to clear information about calorie content of foods.…”

Individuals with restrictive eating disorders' experience of the introduction of calories on menus in England. An IPA study

“…A further theme that was identified was 'normalising calorie counting', where it was felt that the legislation promoted and normalised the use of (Hawking et al, 2023) calorie counting, an activity that played a significant role in participants' experience of an ED. These findings are aligned with previous research where public health obesity campaigns have been identified as providing justification for thoughts and feelings associated with an individual's ED (Bristow et al, 2023).…”

“…The social impact of comments about weight, food and exercise have perhaps not been fully considered, and has important implications considering diet talk has been associated with body image dissatisfaction (Sharpe, Naumann, Treasure, & Schmidt, 2013), a significant risk factor for disordered eating (Bucchianeri et al, 2016). These concerns mirror ongoing and larger discussions around unintended consequences of public health obesity strategies, notably the potential to cause harm by increasing risk of developing disordered eating (Cogan, Smith, & Maine, 2007;Hawking et al, 2023) leading to calls for greater joint research and collaboration between the obesity and ED fields (Hay & Mitchison, 2019).…”

“…Rising obesity rates have prompted a significant increase in public health activity focused on changing individual eating and exercising behaviours (Holmes, 2021). Within this policy context, there have been concerns raised around the potential harm of such 'obesity strategies' on those with, or at risk of developing, an eating disorder (ED) (Bristow, Allen, Simmonds, Snell, & McLean, 2022;Hawking, Dezateux, & Swinglehurst, 2023). One such example is the recent Calorie Labelling (Out of Home) Regulations ( 2021) that came into effect in England in April 2022, which aims to 'empower' individuals to make 'healthier choices' by ensuring consumers have access to clear information about calorie content of foods.…”