Joined by Dr Omara Naseem, a psychologist specialising in eating disorders, for an in-depth discussion regarding the somewhat controversial topic of the introduction of calories on menus.

As of April 2022, it is now a legal requirement for restaurants, cafes and takeaways with more than 250 staff to include caloric information on their menus, websites, and on delivery platforms.

The new rule is part of government plans to tackle obesity.

In today’s episode, we discussed this (what we perceived to be) flawed strategy, and its inevitable contribution towards harmful thoughts and behaviours for individuals struggling with disordered eating and eating disorders.

In regards to it tackling the obesity epidemic, we discuss how a holistic approach is required to create impactful chance… whereas, realistically, a few texts upon a menu may not be the most effective tool to facilitate long-term behavioural changes. A full lifestyle transformation, the cultivation of sustainable and healthy habits, greater education, and community-based interventions are required to approach the issues. So, does this strategy seem like a quick fix?

To follow, in terms of the disordered eating perceptive, we raise how this process will only enforce unhealthy tracking tendencies and disordered behaviours. It can be harmful, perceived as confronting and anxiety inducing for those struggling and cause set backs in recovery journeys. 

So today Dr Omara Naseem provides advice to those struggling, recommending strategies to help someone navigate these stressful situations, whilst also revealing mechanisms to interrupt disordered urges as well as methods to neutralise relationships upon digits, numbers and statistics.

Hopefully alongside myself openly discussing my personal experience, alongside Omara providing her professional perceptive, this episode can provide some guidance and support to you or simply educate you on how this new governmental strategy may cause more harm than good.

https://omaranaseem.com/

@dr.omara.naseem