calorie labeling doesn't curb nyc fast food habits - menu board

NEW YORK (Reuters)-
The rules that require New York City fast food restaurants to post calorie information on their menu boards do not change the habits of low-calorie consumers
According to a study released on Tuesday, the income community.
While half of the consumers surveyed said they noticed the label, and some said they made different choices because of it, comments on fast food purchases showed that habits remained the same, the study, published in the journal Health Affairs, said.
New York became the first American in July 2008. S.
Ask the fast food restaurant to post a large type of calorie count on the menu board.
Since then, the system has become a model of similar rules designed to combat obesity and promote good nutrition, implemented in cities such as California, elsewhere in New York State, Seattle and Portland.
Brian Elbel is a professor at the New York University School of Medicine and the lead author of the study, which is at low-
Income communities with a large minority population say more research is needed.
"While the introduction of calorie labels does not change the number of calories purchased, the efforts of public policy may need to be combined to make meaningful changes to obesity," Elbel said . ". About one-third of U. S.
Obesity in Adults increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and other medical problems.
In compiling the data, researchers from New York University and Yale University quickly analyzed
1,156 adults buy food at Burger King, KFC, McDonald's and Wendy's before and after this rule comes into effect.
The researchers found that the percentage of people who knew calorie information increased from 16% to 54%, but the number of calories purchased was slightly higher than before the rule was implemented.
Menu labels are not required near Newark, New Jersey, where they are used as control groups.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the study may have been completed shortly after the rule came into effect, before all fast food restaurants followed.
The city will release its own research in a sample size of 12,000 in a few months, covering a range of communities.
"At least the public has information, it's the government's job --
To make sure the public has information, "Bloomberg told reporters on Tuesday.
"But, again, this is America, and you have the right to eat what you want," he said . ".