Children and teens under 17 order meals containing an average 650 calories per each fast food visit, according to a study by New York University’s School of Medicine and Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. The study reviews the ordering habits of children and teens living in low-income communities before and after restaurants began posting calorie information. Half notice the calorie information, though only 9% say it influences their order.
In order to get kids to lower their calorie count, researchers recommend restaurants provide an “anchor number” to give some context to the numbers. For instance, posting the total amount of calories a healthy adult or child should eat in a day. [Food/Beverage/Restaurant]
Source: Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, Rogan Kersh, Study Author, Associate Professor Public Policy, 295 Lafayette St., 2nd Fl., New York, NY 10012; 212-998-7400; rogan.kersh@wagner.nyu.edu.
© Copyright 2011, EPM Communications, Inc. May not be reproduced without written consent of publisher.