Do not eat a whole Easter egg in one go, NHS doctor urges

An NHS doctor is urging people not to eat a whole Easter egg in one go - leading to a backlash on social media.

Tooth decay, obesity and Type 2 diabetes are all increasing, Dr Andrew Kelso warned as he called for moderation.

But one person replying on social media said they would "eat two now" while someone else wrote: "You're not my mum."

A third said "Easter finally has a grinch", while a fourth asked for "more specific instructions", wondering whether a Cadbury Creme Egg was included.

Dr Kelso is medical director at the NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board.

Interviewed for a blog on the board's website, he advised people to "resist the urge to eat a whole egg in one go".

Many of us do not realise an average Easter egg contains about three-quarters of an adult's recommended daily calorie intake, he added.

If eggs are combined with cakes and biscuits it "all adds up to a lot of extra sugar and calories", Dr Kelso said, and that "doesn't do our bodies any good".

"Enjoy your sweet treats," he advised. "But please don't overdo it."

Given that Easter is likely to be a "busy period for NHS staff and services", he is also urging people to make sure they have "paracetamol, sticking plasters, indigestion remedy and anti-diarrhoeal medicine".

Those responding to a post on X were unimpressed.

One person wrote: "Technically it's better for your teeth to eat it all in one go," while another wondered: "Has he seen how small they are these days?"

Someone else asked: "Is this a spoof?", while a further respondent observed: "Is this a parody account?"