Kai Clarke

Calorie Counts Influence Menu Readers

February 17, 2010

FROM RETAILWIRE:
While at least one study of low-income consumers showed calorie counts on menus did little to influence purchases in restaurants, two other studies published on the website of the American Journal of Public Health suggest putting calories on the menu could play a significant role in helping address obesity. Will calories and other nutritional information listed on menus help to reduce obesity in the U.S.?      [more...]

First, it is important to note that these studies are poor examples from which to draw conclusions. A 2-week study of students at a single university in Ohio cannot be extrapolated to labeling standards for all of America. Well-educated, young people do not reflect the mass habits of most Americans.

Obesity continues to be a problem with Americans even though we have had product packaging labels that identify this, and it has been available (and posted) on major fast food restaurants for years. The problem with obesity is not a calorie awareness issue, it is a lifestyle issue. People are obese based upon how much they eat compared to what they burn. Exercise is the missing component here. If people burned more calories through at least 35 minutes of cardio-based exercise, every day, obesity would certainly decline. Obesity is not a disease that is focused on reporting calories, but one that is balanced by caloric intake compared to caloric output (exercise).