Going Large – Is Upselling Making You Gain Weight?

Going Large – Is Upselling Making You Gain Weight?

Would you like a whipped cream topping on your coffee? How about a side portion of chips with your meal? A chocolate bar for 50p?

If sales patter like this sounds familiar, you’ve been subject to a technique called ‘upselling’. And public health experts say it could be making you gain weight.

Discounted Deals

Upselling is a trick of the trade used by staff in restaurants, cafes, pubs and other retail establishments. Buy-one-get-one-free offers, half price deals and discounted larger portions are among the techniques used to maximise profit while making us consumers feel we’ve got a good deal.

A new report by the Royal Society for Public Health and Slimming World, called ‘Size matters – the impact of upselling on weight gain’, says the average person eats an additional 330 calories every week – 17,000 a year – as a result of businesses upselling high calorie food and drink. That works out as an estimated potential weight gain of 5lbs (2.3kg) over the course of a year.

The report, which includes a survey of 2,055 UK adults, found that restaurants, fast-food outlets, supermarkets, coffee shops, pubs and bars were most likely to employ upselling techniques. It’s also common in cinemas, airports, on board planes, and in newsagents and petrol stations.

Over a week this resulted in:

• 34% of people buying a larger coffee than intended

• 33% ordering a larger meal

• 36% buying chocolate on special offer

• 35% adding chips or onion rings to their meal

In total, consumers face an average of 106 verbal ‘pushes’ towards unhealthy choices each year. The report also found that young people are particularly vulnerable to upselling techniques and are prompted towards ordering unhealthy food almost every other day on average. Those aged 18 to 24 eat an extra 750 calories each week as a result. That could translate to a weight gain of 11lbs (5kg) each year.

People who take an upsell will generally spend around 17% more money but receive 55% more calories, the report says.

More Calories

The average adult man needs around 2,800 calories a day, while the average woman needs around 2,000 calories.

Typical results of upselling include:

• Opting for a large chocolate bar instead of a small one adds 820 calories

• Choosing a ‘meal deal’ consisting of a sandwich, a bottle of cola and a packet of crisps, instead of just the sandwich, adds 274 calories

• Ordering onion rings as an extra to a meal of pie, chips and peas in a restaurant adds 338 calories

• Consuming an extra 1,648 calories by having a starter plus a dessert with a restaurant meal

Incentives for Businesses

The report says consumers should be savvy about the techniques being used at the till to make them spend more money in return for choosing less healthy food. It also calls for discounts to be offered on business rates to establishments which encourage people to make healthier choices when they order food and drink.

Commenting on the report findings, Caroline Cerny from the Obesity Health Alliance says in a statement: “It’s all too easy to eat more than we need when we are encouraged to buy larger sizes, add unhealthy extras or take advantage of special offers when it comes to unhealthy food and drink.

“There is clear evidence that marketing techniques persuade us to eat and drink more of the wrong types of food and this is driving the obesity epidemic. The food industry can play a vital role by helping to make healthier choices the easy choice and creating a healthier food environment for us all.”

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) responded to a request for a comment by saying that supermarkets were not involved with upselling.  Andrew Opie, director of food policy at the BRC, says “They promote and market products in store, but ensure there is a balance of products and it is offered as choice rather than upselling.

“In addition to ensure the right choice of affordable, healthy choice of product for their consumers they have led the way in reformulating products to remove fats and sugars, as well as providing clear labelling using the UK recommended front-of-pack scheme.

“All of these measures help customers understand their food and make informed choices.”

SOURCES:

Size matters: The impact of upselling on weight gain, Royal Society for Public Health; Slimming World

Press release, Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH)

British Retail Consortium (BRC)

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