The International Journal of Obesity recently published findings by New York University researchers showing although most parents and older children in low-income populations notice calorie counts posted in fast-food restaurants, they still order as they would have before the labeling. These findings come at a time when the federal government is writing guidelines to require restaurants with 20 or more locations to post calorie information. The federal government guidelines follow moves made by several US cities and states.
Could this be a case of shock-and-awe gone awry? Or perhaps a case of individuals not realizing the implications of the information they are reading (e.g., that Big Mac you are about to eat has more than a quarter of your daily calories and that is before you add the fries and Coke)? Or maybe not caring... Or are these results specific to this geographic low income population? Sadly, other studies have generated similar results. The bottom line here is just posting calorie information is only a first step in helping Americans improve the way we eat. Menu labeling needs to be combined with other efforts, such as education in schools, to help us improve our diets and thus our health.
