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January 5, 2010 | Comments: 2

The Health Halo Effect

Think eating at a “healthy” restaurant means you’ll eat fewer calories? Think again—you may actually end up eating more.

People who go to fast-food restaurants with healthier reputations (such as Subway) tend to end up eating even more calories than those at more traditional establishments (such as McDonald’s), according to the “McSubway” project, a series of studies examining the habits of fast-food customers.

Some waist-expanding findings:

■ Just about everyone greatly underestimates calories. People at McDonald’s, for instance, thought a 1,000-calorie meal had 
744 calories, on average.

■ But those eating at Subway underestimated calories even more. They thought a 1,000-calorie meal had just 585 calories.

■ Moreover, people eating a “healthy” meal from Subway were much more likely to order high-calorie side dishes, larger drinks, and dessert than those eating the “unhealthy” meals at McDonald’s.

■ This “health halo” effect—underestimating calories of “healthy” foods and then feeling more deserving of indulging elsewhere—can lead to substantial weight gain over time.

Take-out message: Don’t assume “healthy” means low-calorie. A 12-inch turkey sandwich from Subway, for example, has as many calories as a Big Mac—and several hundred more if you add cheese and dressing. And at any restaurant, whatever you order probably has more calories than you think. Consider portion size and calories (stick to a 6-inch Subway sandwich or order a “mini sub”), not just “healthy” claims.

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