Fast Food Causes Obesity

I don't really agree with forcing fast food restaurants to make healthier food. I think it's our choice to choose to eat there or somewhere else. However, I do think forcing fast food chains to serve healthier meals would benefit a lot of people. The new rules don't go that far. They mandate that the calorie and other contents of fast food are listed for patrons to see. That sounds like a good compromise, but it doesn't seem to be working to curb obesity. Take a look at this CNN article:

FROM CNN: Fast Food has been directly connected to higher obesity rates in the young. The recent health care law requires big fast food chains to disclose how many calories their foods have. But does the rule do young people any good? Researchers surveyed the menu selections of 349 children and adolescents eating at fast-food restaurants both before and after they listed the calorie content of their products. The young people in this study came from low-income communities in New York and Newark, New Jersey and ranged in age from one to seventeen.

The restaurants included four of the largest chains: McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, and KFC. The results-- published in the International Journal of Obesity-- are discouraging to those who hope calorie labeling will help stem the tide of childhood obesity. The authors say the labels had no effect on the number of calories in the kids' food choices.

While many of the adolescents noticed the calorie listings, only 9% said they considered the information when ordering. The authors note that adolescents in the survey reported their parents had some influence on their food selection-- suggesting some guidance from mom and dad could help them make healthier choices.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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Displaying Calories at Fast Food Chains

If you have been reading this blog, you know I am constantly thinking about ways to get my kids to eat healthier. It's not like I pour Kool-Aid down their throats or give them donuts. I just think they could eat better. Neither one of them is very fond of veggies and we do tend to eat out more than I would like.

The following ABC story looks at whether having the calories displayed on the big menu above the cash register at fast food chains will help parents make better choices. I tend to think it will. I think I have a basic knowledge of which menu items are worse than others, but a big reminder right in front of my face would probably sway my impulse decision to get greasy fries.

Knowing the calorie count in a side of fries may make you think twice about ordering it. Nationally, many cities are considering laws ordering restaurants to display the calorie information on their menus. And a new study shows the calorie counts could make a big difference in patrons' orders.

A McDonald's quarter pounder and large fries totals nearly 1000 calories -nearly half of the daily allowance. Both California and New York are considering State laws that would require calorie information be displayed on menus, and New York City implemented such a law in fast food restaurants last month. The restaurant industry has fought back, saying there is no proof that calorie counts would help patrons make healthy choices or reduce obesity levels.

But today a new study arms health workers with some strong evidence. A survey of more than 7,000 people finds that just 4 per cent of patrons noticed calorie information at chains such as McDonald's, Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut - where calorie information is not prominently displayed. However, 31 per cent of patrons at Subway chains, where calorie counts are visible right as you order, noticed the signs and they ordered food containing 52 fewer calories.

Researchers say fast food is so prevalent that reducing consumption by just 50 calories per person would make a big change nationwide.

This study is published in the American Journal of Public Health by researchers from the New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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