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More info could help diners avoid weight gain
A story on the Medical News Today Web site says that an analysis by the UC Berkeley Center for Weight and Health shows that California adults could avoid gaining 2.7 pounds a year if calories were posted on fast-food menu boards statewide.
The analysis combines findings of two studies, the article says:
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A 2008 New York City study found that patrons of fast-food restaurants where calorie counts were shown consumed 52 fewer calories per visit.
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A 2007 consumer survey shows that California adults who eat at fast-food chains do so an average of 3.4 times per week.
Doing the math, the researchers calculated that Californians would cut more than 9,000 calories a year from their diets if they saw the calorie counts on menus.
"Menu board labeling has the potential to dramatically alter the trajectory of the obesity epidemic in California," UC Berkeley states in its report, Potential Impact on Menu Labeling of Fast Foods in California, according to the article.
Click here for a pdf version of the 11-page report.
Sample menu board.
Comments:
Coincidentally, recent USDA reports show that most people are either tired of, or just not interested in reading food labels ("The Decline in Consumer User of Food Nutrition Labels", "Is Dietary Knowledge Enough?").
Nevertheless, I fully agree with Myriam, we in the news media most keep trying.
Too bad the Med News Today article doesn't quote, nor mentions any of the UCB center specialists.
"Menu board labeling has the potential to dramatically alter the trajectory of the obesity epidemic in California," UC Berkeley states in its report, Potential Impact on Menu Labeling of Fast Foods in California. The analysis suggests that by posting calories on fast-food menu boards California could shift from a net gain in weight each year to a net loss.
A recent Pew Hispanic Center report found that Latinos rely heavily on the health care information (I would also add nutrition info) they access through media sources, and more than 3 out of 4 said they act on this information. This indicates media and social networks are powerful resources to reach Latino population.
Another interesting factoid: although many Latinos (71 percent) said they received information from a doctor in the past year, an equal proportion indicated their source of health information was social networks such as family, friends, church groups and community groups. And 83 percent said they obtained health information from the media.
Posted by Myriam Grajales-Hall on August 21, 2008 at 10:18 AM