Trigger Warning: Discussion of eating disorders
Sarah Champion MP is Labour MP for Rotherham & Chair of the International Development Select Committee
The past year has been extremely difficult for people with eating disorders. Between February 2020 and January 2021, calls to Beat (the UK’s eating disorder charity) have increased by 173%. Nine out of 10 people with eating disorders found that the pandemic had a profound negative effect on their eating disorder.
Yet, during this horrific year, the government has announced policies which could make recovery even harder for people with eating disorders.
The government’s ‘Tackling Obesity’ strategy was an opportunity to help people focus on healthiness and wellbeing, but instead, it has focused on the individual’s choices which is likely to have worrying impacts on mental health. The strategy was announced in July 2020, after it had become clear that people who are overweight or obese are more likely to be hospitalized and sadly, die as a result of Covid-19. This work is undeniably important, but it’s even more crucial to get the balance right and prevent any further harm.
One of the policies announced was calorie labelling on menus in restaurants, cafes, and takeaways.
Calorie labelling may be useful for some, but calorie counting can be a dangerous part of eating disorders and can be triggering for many people. Eating out is a treat for most people, but it is an extremely difficult part of living with or recovering from an eating disorder, which will be made even more distressing because of this policy. At the time of the announcement, many with lived experiences of eating disorders spoke out. Even those who are in recovery, are frightened by the prospect of being forced to read how many calories are in each dish on a menu.
Not only is calorie labelling potentially very harmful, but it is unlikely to be an effective way to significantly reduce obesity in the long term.
People with eating disorders are not a monolithic group and calorie labelling will affect different people in very different ways. Research has found that when a menu includes a calorie count, people with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are more likely to order significantly fewer calories than if no calorie count was stated, but people with binge eating disorder are likely to order more calories in the same situation.
Not only is calorie labelling potentially very harmful, but it is unlikely to be an effective way to significantly reduce obesity in the long term. The government needs to shift away from trying to encourage people to lose weight by simply tracking calorie intake and exercising more. There are many more factors at play, such as access to gyms and classes, free time available, stress, and mental health. We should be helping people look after their physical and mental wellbeing better, while also taking everyone’s different circumstances into account.
We never know the reasons for someone’s weight, but being overweight is rarely the result of an individual’s choices alone. This week is Eating Disorder Awareness Week and the theme for 2021 is binge eating disorder - one of the most common, but least understood. One in fifty people experience binge eating disorder and one in three of those with binge eating disorder consider taking their own life. Beat said during the week that the Government announced its obesity strategy, mentions of obesity on their Helpline increased by 165%.
I am calling for the government to review its strategy and consult with people who have lived experiences of eating disorders and who are experts in this field. Eating disorders and obesity are both serious problems, both need urgent solutions, but they cannot be at the expense of one another.
If you need help, visit Beat here.
READ MORE: We Need Empathy, Compassion And A Focus On Mental Health – Not Calorie Counts On Menus