A leading doctor who has urged people not to eat an entire Easter egg ‘in one go’ has been branded “silly” for his remarks. Dr Andrew Kelso, medical director of a large NHS services provider, said people should enjoy their treats this Easter but warned them “Don’t over do it.”

He urged people to ‘resist the urge to eat a whole egg in one go.’ He issued the advice as part of his role as medical director at the NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board.

The former consultant neurologist 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.

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He also warned that GP surgeries were closed over Easter weekend for those who may need help with their chocolate intake. Dr Kelso’s remarks were met with criticism online by those who believed the comments were misguided and smacked of the ‘nanny state.’

One 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.”

Another said they were “sick of this country becoming a nanny state”. 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.