Study: NYC Calorie Postings Don't Change Eating Habits Of Low-Income People

NEW YORK — A new study finds New York City's law requiring restaurant chains to post calories on menus doesn't change the eating habits of low-income people.

The study tracked customers at McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken in poor New York City neighborhoods with high obesity rates.

Half of customers noticed calorie counts. Twenty-eight percent of those said postings had influenced what they ordered. Nine out of 10 of those said they'd made healthier choices as a result.

But New York University and Yale researchers say receipts showed people had ordered slightly more calories than the typical customer before the law went into effect in July 2008.

The study will be published Tuesday in Health Affairs.

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Information from: The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com

Comments

[SleepNewYork]

Listen to your body.

Get into good habits.

And once a week, get your helping of essential fats and oils.

As for the calorie count, it helps me decide between a sugar cookie and a muffin or donut, then it's done its job...

[Alarmist]

I think posting Total Fat Grams, (or even Calories from Fat) would be more effective. People think of calories as "energy." Say "Fat grams" and people might envision getting bigger if they eat that.

[justasimpleguy]

I consider myself a fairly educated person, and I have been laid off of my job, so technically I am now low income. The calorie counts have never had an effect on what I eat when I go into a fast food join. When I go to a McD's or BK, I do not go there seeking something healthy. I go there because either I am really hungry, or I want to splurge and get something that is unhealthy. If I wanted healthy food, I would go the cheaper route and bring my own lunch or make my own food. To me, fast food has never been about health or calorie counting.
I am sure the calories that are posted help the people that want to know and do calorie counting any way. But for the general population, it probably really means nothing. In order for it to have a real change, you have to change the peoples own lifestyle. If they do not count calories or eat healthy, just posting the calories will not have an effect. I am sure for the 26% of the population that counts calories, it is very helpful to them (I come up with 26% as those are the number of people that noticed the calories and changed what they ordered (approx 28% that noticed and 90%of those changed what they ordered)).
When they started it, I did not think it was going to be effective.

[bellecp99]

My guess would be that there is a group people (myself included) that generally stopped eating fast food when this law was implemented. The people still eating there that claim to be making healthier choices are making healthier choices than what they personally used to eat. You can't compare the "typical customer" now to the pre-calorie count "typical customer" to figure out if eating habits are changing.

[John Petro - Huffpost Blogger]

The headline seems to go against the real findings in the study: of those that noticed the calorie counts, 28 percent said that they influenced their order.

[Blue Clutch]

"Half of customers noticed calorie counts. Twenty-eight percent of those said postings had influenced what they ordered. Nine out of 10 of those said they'd made healthier choices as a result."

The problem here is, that often times, there is a strong correlation between low-income and being uneducated. Of those that were influenced into making healthier choices, what substitutes did they make? Are they sure they are healthier? Many salads that you buy at the aforementioned fast-food joints, have more calories than the burgers. There are only a few items on the Mcdonald's menu that are free of high fructose corn syrup. Is HFCS healthy? No. Do most people know what foods are devoid of HFCS. Probably not. HFCS does some strange things to the appetite.

My guess is that most of the education provided on this issue is sub-par. What is often portrayed as healthier choices are almost nearly identical choices. Obviously, people will often eat what they like, regardless of caloric content.

[JamieNYC]

I can't speak for everyone, but my wife and I walked into a Uno Chicago Grill (in NYC) just to look at the menu, and we quickly walked out. The sight of every serving on the menu having about 1000 calories was ridiculous. The customers who we saw frequenting the restaurant were not exactly of the trendy-slim demographic. Slap on one sugary cocktail to a pan pizza, and you're likely to hit 1500 calories.

Some people just don't care.

But I do, I generally don't top 2000 calories a day, my wife consumes even less calories. And what we do eat, such as mostly fish, salad, and vegetables -- is not by mistake. It’s never a good idea to keep soda in the house, and bread is reserved only for special occasions.

On another note, Taco Bell appears to have a very low calorie menu! Three tacos have around 500 calories. It’s low in carbs (don't get the flour tortilla) and opt for water instead of a large coke.

[culturejunkie]

Those who designed the study do indeed live in an ivory tower and have never experienced want. The result should have been obvious. In these times, of course people are going to seek low cost food options, especially low-income individuals, regardless of calorie count because...they have to eat!