From this week, restaurants with more than 250 employees are legally required to list calorie counts on their menus in the U.K.
The government's new law is set to tackle obesity, and some restaurants in the UK are already doing it. But does calorie labelling help the issue, or can it be detrimental to the mental health of diners, who may already be suffering with eating disorders?
A woman from Liverpool has shared her fears surrounding calorie labelling and the risks it can pose for people like her. The 30-year-old from Toxteth describes her relationship with food as "complicated", after battling with depression, OCD, anxiety, and anorexia for six-years.
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Sophie Cook, founder of Sophie's Kitchen - a bakery business based in Liverpool 8, has spoken about her struggles with food. She said: "It took me a while to realise I was ill, but I guess that’s the thing of mental health.
"When you’re struggling yourself, you know exactly how hard it can be, so you spend so much time making sure everyone around you doesn’t feel like the same. You lose touch with yourself.
"I used to love going out with my mates for food and drinks. Slowly over time I found myself missing out on more and more social events."
She taught herself to bake, the one thing she could do to "make people smile". Unfortunately Sophie's health continued to spiral downwards, and she was admitted into a psychiatric unit called Oaktrees in Wirral.
Sophie said: "I was hospitalised for seven-months in total, four of which I spent in a wheelchair. Over time they'd allow me a few hours off the hospital grounds.
"I decided that if I wanted to get better I needed to get better for me, not just because I was doing what the doctors told me to do. I started to look at what would motivate me to get better, and I found a course in Liverpool Community College for baking and cake decorating."
Finding the class motivated Sophie to get herself well again. Printing the college application and sticking it to her hospital room wall was a "constant reminder" to her, to be well enough to go to college and complete the course.
She said: "The day I weighed enough to leave hospital, I discharged myself. I haven’t seen a doctor or psychiatrist since.
"Different things work for different people and I’ve seen first-hand how much professional support can help other people. Personally, I took the time to make myself aware of what triggers me, what I find hard and what makes me happy, but there are still triggers and calories are one of them."
Becoming aware of the new calorie labelling laws in May 2021, Sophie was "angry" about the idea behind it and still is. There were many petitions to try and stop the law from going ahead but "they’ve all been ignored".
The baker said: "I didn’t and still don’t understand what will be gained by putting calories on menus – most organisations already have nutritional values available and people can go online to find everything they need on most corporate websites. But seeing calories on a menu could have serious repercussions for someone struggling with an eating disorder.
"To this day seeing calories still makes me feel anxious. I’ve spent years figuring out my triggers and working on them, but one thing I can’t shake off is the impact of seeing that number.
"I’ve taken steps to educate myself on what calories are and how they’re built up, I’m now able to look at a meal and understand where those numbers actually come from. That a high number doesn’t necessarily make it a bad choice.
"But no matter how far I’ve come I still find myself noting the calories on what I’m eating. I will openly admit that when I’m having a bad day, my eating disorder will creep back in, and no matter how much I’ve taught myself my brain will forget all of this and I’ll struggle with certain foods based on the calorie content."
She told the ECHO: "The Government actually need to understand mental health. Anyone can read books and get qualifications, but it doesn't mean you actually understand how people feel - and that is the most important thing about mental health.
"Mental health isn't black and white, people can have exactly the same mental health 'issue' but feel completely different, and that's why education is so important. People need to be educated [about mental health] from a young age, not just because it's a trend on social media every time a celebrity dies due to mental health, or it's a day like world mental health day."
Helplines and support groups
The following are helplines and support networks for people to talk to, mostly listed on the NHS Choices website
- Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you're feeling, or if you're worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org.
- CALM Campaign Against Living Miserably (0800 58 58 58) is a leading movement against suicide. It runs a UK helpline and webchat from 5pm to midnight 365 days a year for anyone who has hit a wall for any reason, who need to talk or find information and support.
- PANDAS (0808 1961 776) runs a free helpline and offers a support service for people who may be suffering with perinatal mental illness, including prenatal (antenatal) and postnatal depression plus support for their family or network.
- Childline (0800 1111) runs a helpline for children and young people in the UK. Calls are free and the number won't show up on your phone bill.
- PAPYRUS (0800 068 41 41) is an organisation supporting teenagers and young adults who are feeling suicidal.
- Mind (0300 123 3393) is a charity providing advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.
- Students Against Depression is a website for students who are depressed, have a low mood or are having suicidal thoughts.
- Bullying UK is a website for both children and adults affected by bullying.
Amparo provides emotional and practical support for anyone who has been affected by a suicide. This includes dealing with police and coroners; helping with media enquiries; preparing for and attending an inquest and helping to access other, appropriate, local support services. Call 0330 088 9255 or visit www.amparo.org.uk for more details.
- Hub of Hope is the UK’s most comprehensive national mental health support database. Download the free app, visit hubofhope.co.uk or text HOPE to 85258 to find relevant services near you.
- Young Persons Advisory Service – Providing mental health and emotional wellbeing services for Liverpool’s children, young people and families. tel: 0151 707 1025 email: support@ypas.org.uk
- Paul's Place - providing free counselling and group sessions to anyone living in Merseyside who has lost a family member or friend to suicide. Tel: 0151 226 0696 or email: paulsplace@beaconcounsellingtrust.co.uk
The Martin Gallier Project - offering face to face support for individuals considering suicide and their families. Opening hours 9.30-16.30, 7 days a week. Tel: 0151 644 0294 email: triage@gallierhouse.co.uk
James' Place - supports men over 18 who are experiencing a suicidal crisis by providing quick access to therapy and support. Call 0151 303 5757 from Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 5.30pm or visit https://www.jamesplace.org.uk/
