The calorie counts which have been used as the basis of diet plans and guidance on healthy eating for the previous 18 years could be wrong a new study has found, reports safedietpills.co.uk

The study found that the recommended daily intake of calories could be increased by an additional 16%, a draft report by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition said.

At current levels, women are told to consume a maximum of 2,000 calories whilst men are recommended 2,500 calories per day.

Members of the committee stressed, however, that people should eat more only if they exercise more, given rising levels of obesity.

The panel claim its report is a far more accurate assessment of how energy can be burnt off through physical exercise.

If the additional 16% were taken into consideration, adults would be allowed to consume an additional 400 calories per day. That equates to a 5oz grilled steak, oven chips and a salad.

The initial findings were leaked to the Times and The Grocer magazine. After a three and a half month consultation period, final recommendations will then be made.

Food health campaigners believe the Department of Health and the Food Standards Agency may well seek to “sweep the report under the carpet” in an attempt to avoid sending out mixed messages during an obesity epidemic.

Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum, said it was a “dangerous assumption” to say that adults could safely consume an extra 400 calories a day.

This is not a green light to eat yourself silly,” he said.