SHOULD MENUS DISPLAY AMOUNT OF EXERCISE TO BURN CALORIES?
From Food Product Design April 24, 2013
BOSTON—In an effort to encourage consumers to make healthier and more informed food choices, federal law requires food establishments that are part of a chain with 20 or more locations nationwide todisclose the calorie content of each menu item. However, many studies have found that providing information on calorie content does not lead to fewer calories ordered or consumed.
New research presented at the Experimental Biology 2013 meeting examined a new approach for encouraging reduced calorie intake by displaying the minutes of exercise needed to burn food calories displayed on the menu.
“We need a more effective strategy to encourage people to order and consume fewer calories from restaurant menus," said Dr. Meena Shah, Texas Christian University (TCU). "Brisk walking is something nearly everyone can relate to, which is why we displayed on the menu the minutes of brisk walking needed to burn food calories," added Ashlei James, TCU.
The researchers conducted a study of 300 men and women ages 18 to 30 years who were randomly assigned to a menu without calorie labels, a menu with calorie labels, or a menu with labels for the minutes of brisk walking needed to burn the food calories. All menus contained the same food and beverage options, which included burgers, chicken sandwiches/tenders, salad, fries, desserts, soda and water.
Results indicate the menu displaying the minutes of brisk walking needed to burn food calories led to fewer calories ordered and consumed compared with the menu without calorie labels. There was no difference between the menu with calorie labels and the menu without calorie labels in the number of calories ordered and consumed by the subjects.
"This study suggests there are benefits to displaying exercise minutes to a group of young men and women. We can't generalize to a population over age 30, so we will further investigate this in an older and more diverse group," Shah said. "This is the first study to look at the effects of displaying minutes of brisk walking needed to burn food calories on the calories ordered and consumed."
Results found a female would have to walk briskly for approximately two hours to burn the calories in a quarter-pound double cheeseburger, Shah added.
In January, a report from USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) revealed food prepared away from home (FAFH)—whether eaten in restaurants, fast-food and other locations, or as take-out or delivery to be eaten at home—is now a routine part of most Americans’ diets, accounting for 41% of food expenditures and 32% of caloric intake.
New research presented at the Experimental Biology 2013 meeting examined a new approach for encouraging reduced calorie intake by displaying the minutes of exercise needed to burn food calories displayed on the menu.
“We need a more effective strategy to encourage people to order and consume fewer calories from restaurant menus," said Dr. Meena Shah, Texas Christian University (TCU). "Brisk walking is something nearly everyone can relate to, which is why we displayed on the menu the minutes of brisk walking needed to burn food calories," added Ashlei James, TCU.
The researchers conducted a study of 300 men and women ages 18 to 30 years who were randomly assigned to a menu without calorie labels, a menu with calorie labels, or a menu with labels for the minutes of brisk walking needed to burn the food calories. All menus contained the same food and beverage options, which included burgers, chicken sandwiches/tenders, salad, fries, desserts, soda and water.
Results indicate the menu displaying the minutes of brisk walking needed to burn food calories led to fewer calories ordered and consumed compared with the menu without calorie labels. There was no difference between the menu with calorie labels and the menu without calorie labels in the number of calories ordered and consumed by the subjects.
"This study suggests there are benefits to displaying exercise minutes to a group of young men and women. We can't generalize to a population over age 30, so we will further investigate this in an older and more diverse group," Shah said. "This is the first study to look at the effects of displaying minutes of brisk walking needed to burn food calories on the calories ordered and consumed."
Results found a female would have to walk briskly for approximately two hours to burn the calories in a quarter-pound double cheeseburger, Shah added.
In January, a report from USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) revealed food prepared away from home (FAFH)—whether eaten in restaurants, fast-food and other locations, or as take-out or delivery to be eaten at home—is now a routine part of most Americans’ diets, accounting for 41% of food expenditures and 32% of caloric intake.
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