Some think that normal weight people are better able than overweight people to estimate the calorie content of meals. But a new study found that both overweight and normal weight people correctly estimated the number of calories in smaller meals in fast-food restaurants, and both underestimated the calories in larger meals (Article, p. 326).

Since overweight people tend to eat larger meals, underestimation of calories could contribute to excess pounds.

The authors suggest that people trying to lose weight might better estimate their calorie intake by:

* doubling their initial estimate of calories in a large meal

* estimating calories item by item (small amounts) instead of estimating for the meal as a whole

* considering portion-size benchmarks when estimating calorie content, e.g. a portion of meat should be about the size of a deck of cards)

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Tip Sheet Annals of Internal Medicine, Sept. 5, 2006

Contact: Susan Anderson
American College of Physicians