Doctors warn Brits may be consuming an extra 2,800 calories per week

Brits may be consuming an extra 400 unaccounted-for calories per day - the equivalent of almost a day and a half’s additional calories per week - because of misleading calorie information in cafes, restaurants and takeaways.

Despite legislation requiring calorie information on menus, the figures can legally carry a 20% margin of error, potentially adding an extra 2,800 calories per week.

Research by ZAVA Online Doctor found that the most common weight-loss strategy among Brits is eating fewer calories, with 52% of people opting to cut back their intake in pursuit of their goals. However, this reliance on calorie labels may be sabotaging their efforts, contributing to a frustrating cycle of weight loss and regain.

READ MORE: Calories on restaurant menus 'have no meaningful decrease in consumption’

Dr Crystal Wyllie said: "Many people base their dietary decisions on the numbers they see on menus, but with a margin of error as high as 20%, those numbers can be misleading. For someone aiming to cut calories, this discrepancy can make it much harder to achieve their goals, and it may explain why so many people struggle to sustain weight loss.

"This can pose a significant problem for patients’ wider health, as our research shows that 25% of UK adults have avoided seeking medical advice because they feared being judged about their weight.”

The survey revealed that of those who have successfully lost weight, 41% of UK adults have regained some of it, and 14% have regained all of the weight back. This finding underscores how difficult it can be to maintain weight loss, particularly when calorie information is inaccurate or unreliable.

Worse still, ZAVA’s latest research highlights how these challenges in maintaining a healthy