A draft report into the amount of energy required to stay healthy was published today by The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition.  The values published are 16% than those found in the last investigation into energy requirements, conducted in 1991, but the food standards agency declares that it is likely the new draft requirements provide a more accurate description of the current situation in the UK.

Although SACN is not making recommendations based on its findings, it is stressing the importance that people to do not start increasing their calorific intake based on the new draft values.  The huge amount of overweight and obese people in the country implies that already too many of us take in much more energy than we need and more emphasis must be placed on increasing physical activity in relation to any increase of energy intake.  Only with proper food safety training can changes in diet and nutrition be fully advised.

The food standards agency is advising consumers not to change their dietary habits based on the SACN findings.  In fact, most people should consider eating less and exercising more – this fact remains a sad but stable truth in our culture.