Loading...
In experimental settings, people underestimate the calorie contents of typical restaurant meals (JW Cardiol Sep 20 2006). But whether the same is true of people dining in actual restaurants is unclear. In this study, 3400 people were asked to estimate calorie contents of meals they purchased at six fast-food chain restaurants (McDonald's, Burger King, Subway, Wendy's, KFC, and Dunkin' Donuts). Adults and adolescents provided their own estimates; adults provided estimates for younger children.
On average, actual meal calorie content was 733 kcal for children, 756 kcal for adolescents, and 836 kcal for adults. Participants underestimated these calorie contents by 175, 259, and 175 kcal, respectively. Underestimation of meal calorie contents in…