Teens are Ignorant Regarding Calories in Fast-Food Meals

“There are some major errors in their estimations,” says Jason Block, the study’s lead researcher and an instructor at Harvard Medical School. Block and colleagues surveyed 547 people, ages 11 to 20, as they left five restaurant chains, including McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway, Dunkin’ Donuts and Wendy’s. Adolescents were asked to estimate the calories in their meals then the researchers collected their receipts and figured out how many calories the meals actually contained. Eighty percent of young people underestimated the calories in their meals. Thirty percent underestimated the amount by 500 or more calories. Those who ordered 1,000-calorie meals underestimated the amount by an average of 350 calories. Those who ordered 1,500-calorie meals were off by 700 calories. Block J, et al “Underestimation of calories purchased at fast food restaurants by adolescents — who and how much?” OBESITY 2011; Abstract 56-OR