There should be legislation requiring restaurants and food chains nationwide to display calorie information on their menus, public health expert Dr. Tony Leachon said on Tuesday, March 19.

Interviewed on DZRH's Balansyado, Leachon explained that 2,000-calorie meals and 1,500-calorie meals a day are recommended for men and women, respectively.

With the calorie information on each food displayed, he said people will be wiser in choosing what to eat.

"There are two reason why we fail in health. First is ignorance. Ngayon ay alam mo na meron calories, you have informed choices. Kung kumain ka, despite knowing na mataas ang calories mo, kasalanan mo na iyon," Leachon said.

One in every three Filipinos, he said, is overweight or obese because of excessive intake of fast food which he described as cheap and accessible. Leachon also took note that Filipinos eat six times a day including midnight snacks.

The public health expert believes calorie count will prevent non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, and stroke.

He also proposes that the law shall mandate the provision of incentives to restaurants and food chains displaying the calorie count on their menus.

A calorie labeling policy is set to be implemented in food establishments in Quezon City, aiming to "further promote a healthy diet among QCitizens."

Quezon City government, in a press release, said Mayor Joy Belmonte and Vital Strategies Director Ariella Rojhani inked a subgrant agreement on calorie labeling policy in the city last March 17.

"The Calorie Labelling policy, which will be soon crafted by the city with public interest group Imagine Law, will require food establishments to add nutrition information on their menu. With this, customers will be knowledgeable on the calorie and nutrient content of the food or beverage they are about to consume," it said.