With Mayo Clinic nutritionists Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.

By now, many of you have heard that New York City has a new menu-labeling law requiring fast-food restaurants to post the calories of everything they serve right on the menu. Other cities will likely do the same.

Groups supporting this seemingly small requirement include health professionals who see the need to break the link between the "get-the-most-for-your-buck-type restaurants," the pounds on their patients, and the increase in weight-related diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and blood pressure.

Employers hope for a long-term benefit of healthier employees, fewer sick days and decreased costs of health benefits. Legislators see it in terms of dollars spent supporting state health programs.

There are others in opposition. These include national and state restaurant associations who say it's difficult to do (because some restaurants support the "have it your way" items), it's costly (because meals have to be analyzed), it's already available on Web sites, and it won't make a difference in customer choices (that regardless of this information "they'll still have it their way").

A couple of studies in the American Journal of Public Health and its online journal suggest that listing calories and other nutrients does positively shape food selections. In September 2006 the journal reported on a study in which participants, on average, underestimated restaurant items by 600 calories. They also found that listing of calories influenced meal purchases towards healthier choices — especially when calories for items exceeded what customers expected.

The June 12, 2008, online edition of the journal includes a survey of 7,378 customers from randomly selected restaurants of 11 fast food chains. The average meal purchased contained 827 calories — one third of the customers bought 1000 or more calories! In the restaurants that posted calories on menus, 34 percent reported seeing the information, and they purchased an average of 52 fewer calories than those who did not see calorie information. (Math time: 52 fewer calories/day x 365 days = about 5.5 unwanted pounds.)

My take is that it doesn't hurt and might help those who want help making healthier food choices. It's most effective when the information is placed where you use it (not hidden on a Web site or in a brochure that never seems to be available). It may even spur those in the restaurant industry to develop some really tasty, healthy items that are easy to grab and go. The down side is that some find this type of information really irritating.

What do you think? Do you think listing calories or other nutrients is helpful in our nation's struggle with obesity?

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