Doctor who issued Easter egg warning called 'silly' with 'too much time on his hands'

A leading doctor has warned people not to eat an entire Easter egg ‘in one go’, which has lead to some backlash on social media.

Dr Andrew Kelso said people should enjoy their chocolate treats over the bank holiday weekend, but suggested that they “don’t over do it”.

He issued his advice last week as part of his role as medical director at the NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board. Dr Kelso said: “Many people don’t realise that an average Easter egg contains around three-quarters of an adult’s recommended daily calorie intake. At a time like this when we are seeing significant increases in cases of obesity and Type 2 diabetes, as well as tooth decay, I urge people to enjoy their Easter eggs in moderation and resist the urge to eat a whole egg in one go.

“As well as Easter eggs many of us will be meeting up with family and friends for social occasions, which will see us eat more cakes and biscuits. Combined, it all adds up to a lot of extra sugar and calories which doesn’t do our bodies any good. Enjoy your sweet treats, but please don’t overdo it.”

He added that GP surgeries were closed over Easter weekend for those who may need help related to their chocolate intake.

However, some of those responding on social media were unimpressed. One person posted on Facebook: “This doctor has obviously got to much time on his hands to be given such a silly interview. We all know that surgeries will be shut over Easter, they always have been. And we all know too much chocolate can lead to diabetes, being fat and tooth decay. Maybe if people could actually get into a doctors or dentist, there wouldn’t be half so many problems.”

Dr Andrew Kelso

Another said they were “sick of this country becoming a nanny state”. It comes as the the HSE National Clinical Lead on Obesity, Professor Donal O’Shea, advised that children should only get one Easter egg this year.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne, he said that on average, children receive six Easter eggs each, which is too much. Prof O’Shea said: “People don’t understand how hardwired the brain is to be unable to resist the combination of high fat, high salt and sugar. It is. You cannot stop.”

He added that obesity rates in Ireland were now “edging down” to 20% from 23% in adults, which was “a very encouraging trend”.

“We’re beginning to see a levelling in our obesity rates and trends, which is positive,” he said.

The tradition of chocolate eggs on Easter Sunday, which is on March 31 this year, is from Christians exchanging eggs as a symbol of rebirth after Christ’s resurrection.

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