Overview
- The mixed-methods survey, published Wednesday in BMJ Public Health, captured views from 1,001 people in England aged 16 and over with disordered eating.
- Half of respondents said menu calories made their symptoms worse, 24% felt neutral, and 26% reported benefits, with people who had restrictive disorders most likely to report harm.
- Participants who reported regular binge eating were more likely to welcome labels and described feeling more control when choosing food.
- Optional or QR code menus ranked among the top choices for 63.6% of participants, which the authors say could preserve access to numbers without triggering distress.
- England has required large chains to post calories on menus since 2022, and the Government plans a formal review by April 2027 that researchers hope will draw on these findings.