Skip to main content

Calorie estimation accuracy and menu labeling perceptions among individuals with and without binge eating and/or purging disorders

Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity volume 18, pages 255–261 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Menu labeling is a public health policy that requires chain restaurants in the USA to post kilocalorie information on their menus to help consumers make informed choices. However, there is concern that such a policy might promote disordered eating. This web-based study compared individuals with self-reported binge eating disorder (N = 52), bulimia nervosa (N = 25), and purging disorder (N = 17) and those without eating disorders (No ED) (N = 277) on restaurant calorie information knowledge and perceptions of menu labeling legislation. On average, people answered 1.46 ± 1.08 questions correctly (out of 6) (25 %) on a calorie information quiz and 92 % of the sample was in favor of menu labeling. The findings did not differ based on eating disorder, dieting, or weight status, or race/ethnicity. The results indicated that people have difficulty estimating the calories in restaurant meals and individuals with and without eating disorders are largely in favor of menu labeling laws.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  1. O’Dea JA (2005) Prevention of child obesity: ‘First, do no harm’. Health Educ Res 20:259–265

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Cogan JC, Smith JP, Maine MD (2008) The risks of a quick fix: a case against mandatory body mass index reporting laws. Eat Disord 16:2–13

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Black R (2011) Michelle Obama under fire for mentioning daughter Malia’s weight during obesity remarks. http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2010/02/05/2010-02-05_michelle_obama_under_fire_for_mentioning_daughters_during_obesity_remarks.html

  4. Austin SB, Field AE, Wiecha J et al (2005) The impact of a school-based obesity prevention trial on disordered weight-control behaviors in early adolescent girls. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 159:225–230

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Austin SB, Kim J, Wiecha J et al (2007) School-based overweight preventive intervention lowers incidence of disordered weight-control behaviors in early adolescent girls. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 161:865–869

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Roberto CA, Schwartz MB, Brownell KD (2009) Rationale and evidence for menu-labeling legislation. Am J Prev Med 37:546–551

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Lin BH (1996) Diets of America’s children: influence of dining out, household characteristics, and nutrition knowledge, agricultural economic report #726, Washington, DC

  8. Guthrie J, Biing-Hwan L, Frazao E (2002) Role of food prepared away from home in the American diet, 1977–78 versus 1994–96: changes and consequences. J Nutr Educ Behav 34:140–150

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Young LR, Nestle M (2007) Portion sizes and obesity: responses of fast-food companies. J Public Health Policy 28:238–248

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Ello-Martin J, Ledikwe J, Rolls B (2005) The influence of food portion size and energy density on energy intake: implications for weight management. Am J Clin Nutr 82:236S–241S

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Rolls B, Morris E, Roe L (2002) Portion size of food affects energy intake in normal-weight and overweight men and women. Am J Clin Nutr 76:1207–1213

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. McCrory MA, Fuss PJ, Hays NR et al (1999) Overeating in America: association between restaurant food consumption and body fatness in healthy adult men and women ages 19 to 80. Obes Res 7:564–571

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Pereira M, Kartashov A, Ebbeling C et al (2005) Fast food habits, weight gain, and insulin resistance (the CARDIA study) 15-year prospective analysis. Lancet 365:36–42

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Backstrand J, Wootan MG, Young LR et al (1997) Fat chance. Center for Science in the Public Interest, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  15. Burton S, Creyer EH, Kees J et al (2006) Attacking the obesity epidemic: the potential health benefits of providing nutrition information in restaurants. Am J Public Health 96:1669–1675

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity (2008) Menu labeling in chain restaurants: opportunities for public policy. Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, New Haven. http://www.yaleruddcenter.org/resources/upload/docs/what/reports/RuddMenuLabelingReport2008.pdf

  17. Center for Science in the Public Interest (2009) Summary of polls on nutrition labeling in restaurants. http://www.cspinet.org/new/pdf/census_menu_board_question.pdf

  18. Nutrition Labeling of Standard Menu Items at Chain Restaurants Sec 4205. HR 3590, 2010

  19. Elbel B, Kersh R, Brescoll VL et al (2009) Calorie labeling and food choices: a first look at the effects on low-income people in New York City. Health Aff (Millwood) 28:1110–1121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Finkelstein EA, Strombotne KL, Chan NL et al (2011) Mandatory menu labeling in one fast-food chain in King County, Washington. Am J Prev Med 40:122–127

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Tandon PS, Zhou C, Chan NL et al (2011) The impact of menu labeling on fast-food purchases for children and parents. Am J Prev Med 41:434–438

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Dumanovsky T, Huang CY, Nonas CA et al (2011) Changes in energy content of lunchtime purchases from fast food restaurants after introduction of calorie labeling: cross sectional customer surveys. BMJ 343:1–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Bollinger B, Leslie P, Sorensen A (2010) Calorie posting in chain restaurants, Mimeo, Stanford GSB. http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/news/StarbucksCaloriePostingStudy.pdf. Accessed 30 Jan 2011

  24. Roberto CA, Larsen PD, Agnew H et al (2010) Evaluating the impact of menu labeling on food choices and intake. Am J Public Health 100:312–318

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Hu M (2008) Calorie cards removed from dining halls. The Harvard Crimson. http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2008/9/24/calorie-cards-removed-from-dining-halls/

  26. Stanton AL, Tips TA (1990) Accuracy of calorie estimation by females as a function of eating habits and body mass. Int J Eat Disord 4:387–393

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Fairburn CG, Beglin SJ (1994) Assessment of eating disorders: interview or self-report questionnaire? Int J Eat Disord 16:363–370

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Fairburn C, Wilson GT (1993) Eating disorder examination. In: Fairburn CG, Wilson GT (eds) Binge eating: nature, assessment and treatment. Guilford Press, New York, pp 333–360

    Google Scholar 

  29. American Psychiatric Association (1994) Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4th edn. American Psychiatric Association, Washington, DC

  30. Luce KH, Crowther JH (1999) The reliability of the Eating Disorder Examination-Self-Report Questionnaire Version (EDE-Q). Int J Eat Disord 25:349–351

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Reas DL, Grilo CM, Masheb RM (2006) Reliability of the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire in patients with binge eating disorder. Behav Res Ther 44:43–51

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Grilo CM, Masheb RM, Wilson GT (2001) A comparison of different methods for assessing the features of eating disorders in patients with binge eating disorder. J Consult Clin Psychol 69:317–322

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Mond JM, Hay PJ, Rodgers B et al (2004) Validity of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) in screening for eating disorders in community samples. Behav Res Ther 42:551–567

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Mond J, Hay P, Rodgers B et al (2007) Self-report versus interview assessment of purging in a community sample of women. Eur Eat Disord Rev 1:403–409

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Center for Science in the Public Interest (2009) Restaurant quiz. http://www.cspinet.org/nutritionpolicy/restaurant_quiz.html

  36. Sysko R, Walsh BT, Schebendach J et al (2005) Eating behavior among women with anorexia nervosa. Am J Clin Nutr 82:296–301

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Keel P, Haedt A, Edler C (2005) Purging disorder: an ominous variant of bulimia nervosa? Int J Eat Disord 38:191–199

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Crow SJ, Agras WS, Halmi K et al (2002) Full syndromal versus subthreshold anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder: a multicenter study. Int J Eat Disord 32:309–318

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  39. le Grange D, Binford R, Peterson C et al (2006) DSM-IV threshold versus subthreshold bulimia nervosa. Int J Eat Disord 39:462–467

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Roberto CA, Grilo CM, Masheb RM et al (2010) Binge eating, purging, or both: eating disorder psychopathology findings from an internet community survey. Int J Eat Disord 43:724–731

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Wansink B, Chandon P (2006) Meal size, not body size, explains errors in estimating the calorie content of meals. Ann Intern Med 145:326–332

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Timmerman GM (2006) Restaurant eating in nonpurge binge-eating women. West J Nurs Res 28:811–824

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Allison S, Timmerman GM (2007) Anatomy of a binge: food environment and characteristics of nonpurge binge episodes. Eat Behav 8:31–38

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Carter JC, Aime A, Mills J (2001) Assessment of bulimia nervosa: a comparison of interview and self-report questionnaire methods. Int J Eat Disord 30:187–192

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Wilfley D, Schwartz MB, Spurrell EB et al (1997) Assessing the specific psychopathology of binge eating disorder patients: interview or self-report? Behav Res Ther 35:1151–1159

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Darby A, Hay P, Mond J, Quirk F et al (2009) The rising prevalence of comorbid obesity and eating disorder behaviors from 1995 to 2005. Int J Eat Disord 42:104–108

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Smink FRE, Hoeken D, Hoek HW (2012) Epidemiology of eating disorders: Incidence, prevalence and mortality rates. Cur Psychiatry Rep 14:406–414

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Marney A. White is supported by National Institutes of Health Grant K23 DK071646, which provided funding for this study. The authors would like to thank Margo Wootan, D.Sc. and the Center for Science in the Public Interest for permission to use their restaurant calorie information quiz. The authors would also like to thank the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health & Society Scholars program for its financial support.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Contributors

C.A. Roberto originated the study idea and design, performed data analysis and led the writing. A.F. Haynos, M.B. Schwartz and K.D. Brownell helped interpret the results and provided critical feedback on drafts of the manuscript. M.A. White gave input on the study design, helped interpret the results and provided critical feedback on drafts of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health & Society Scholar, Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, 9 Bow Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA

    Christina A. Roberto

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno, USA

    Ann F. Haynos

  3. Department of Psychology, Yale University, Box 208205, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA

    Marlene B. Schwartz

  4. Department of Psychology and School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, USA

    Kelly D. Brownell

  5. Department of Psychiatry, Department of Psychology, School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, USA

    Marney A. White

Authors
  1. Christina A. Roberto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ann F. Haynos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Marlene B. Schwartz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kelly D. Brownell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Marney A. White
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christina A. Roberto.

Appendix

Appendix

1*Denotes correct answer

  1. 1.

    At Denny’s, which breakfast item has the least number of calories?

    1. a.

      Ham & Cheddar Omelet (595 calories)

    2. *b.

      Country fried steak & eggs (464 calories)

    3. c.

      An order of French toast with syrup & margarine (3 slices) (1,000 calories)

    4. d.

      An order of pancakes (3) with syrup & margarine (650 calories)

  2. 2.

    Which sandwich from the restaurant Cosi has more than 700 calories?

    1. a.

      Turkey Rustica (619 calories)

    2. b.

      Tuscan Pesto Chicken (571 calories)

    3. c.

      Tandoori Chicken (633 calories)

    4. *d.

      Grilled Chicken T.B.M. (791 calories)

    5. e.

      Sesame Ginger Chicken (508 calories)

  3. 3.

    Which item at Dunkin’ Donuts has the fewest number of calories?

    1. a.

      Sesame bagel with cream cheese (570 calories)

    2. *b.

      2 Jelly filled donuts (420 calories)

    3. c.

      Banana walnut muffin (540 calories)

    4. d.

      A medium (24 oz.) strawberry banana smoothie (550 calories)

  4. 4.

    Which grande (16 oz.) Starbucks drink has the fewest calories?

    1. a.

      Frappuccino Blended Coffee with whipped cream (420–550 calories)

    2. b.

      Frappuccino Blended Crème (490–580 calories)

    3. c.

      Chai Tea Latte (290 calories)

    4. d.

      Caramel Macchiato (310 calories)

    5. *e.

      Cappuccino (even, if made with whole milk) (150 calories)

  5. 5.

    Which item at McDonald’s has the most calories?

    1. a.

      Big Mac (560 calories)

    2. b.

      2 Sausage McGriddles (840 calories)

    3. *c.

      Large chocolate shake (1,160 calories)

    4. d.

      4 Hamburgers (1,040 calories)

  6. 6.

    Which item at Chili’s Grill & Bar is <1,000 calories?

    1. a.

      Southwestern Cobb salad (1080 calories)

    2. *b.

      Chili’s Cheesesteak (880 calories)

    3. c.

      Honey–Chipotle ribs (1,270 calories)

    4. d.

      Fire Grilled Chicken Fajita Quesadilla (1,480)

    5. e.

      Chicken Ranch Sandwich (1,170)

  7. 7.

    Should your state require fast-food and other chain restaurants like McDonald’s, Starbucks Denny’s, Cosi and Chili’s to display the calorie content of their foods on menus and menu boards?

    1. a.

      Yes, I strongly support that

    2. b.

      Yes, I somewhat support that

    3. c.

      No, I somewhat oppose that

    4. d.

      No, I strongly oppose that

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Roberto, C.A., Haynos, A.F., Schwartz, M.B. et al. Calorie estimation accuracy and menu labeling perceptions among individuals with and without binge eating and/or purging disorders. Eat Weight Disord 18, 255–261 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-013-0035-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-013-0035-x

Keywords

  • Menu labeling
  • Eating disorders
  • Calorie estimation