Measured energy content of frequently purchased restaurant meals: multi-country cross sectional study

Authors : Roberts SB, Das SK, Suen VMM, Pihlajamäki J, Kuriyan R, Steiner-Asiedu M, Taetzsch A, Anderson AK, Silver RE, Barger K, Krauss A, Karhunen L, Zhang X, Hambly C, Schwab U, Triffoni-Melo AT, Taylor SF, Economos C, Kurpad AV, Speakman JR

Publication Year : 2018

Abstract :

OBJECTIVE:
To measure the energy content of frequently ordered meals from full service and fast food restaurants in five countries and compare values with US data.

DESIGN:
Cross sectional survey.

SETTING:
223 meals from 111 randomly selected full service and fast food restaurants serving popular cuisines in Brazil, China, Finland, Ghana, and India were the primary sampling unit; 10 meals from five worksite canteens were also studied in Finland. The observational unit was frequently ordered meals in selected restaurants.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE:
Meal energy content, measured by bomb calorimetry.

RESULTS:
Compared with the US, weighted mean energy of restaurant meals was lower only in China (719 (95% confidence interval 646 to 799) kcal versus 1088 (1002 to 1181) kcal; P less than 0.001). In analysis of variance models, fast food contained 33% less energy than full service meals (P less than 0.001). In Finland, worksite canteens provided 25% less energy than full service and fast food restaurants (mean 880 (SD 156) versus 1166 (298); P=0.009). Country, restaurant type, number of meal components, and meal weight predicted meal energy in a factorial analysis of variance (R2=0.62, P less than 0.001). Ninety four per cent of full service meals and 72% of fast food meals contained at least 600 kcal. Modeling indicated that, except in China, consuming current servings of a full service and a fast food meal daily would supply between 70% and 120% of the daily energy requirements for a sedentary woman, without additional meals, drinks, snacks, appetizers, or desserts.

CONCLUSION:
Very high dietary energy content of both full service and fast food restaurant meals is a widespread phenomenon that is probably supporting global obesity and provides a valid intervention target.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30541752