Eating out in New York City will be a healthy affair

As from the end of March this year diners at fast food restaurants in New York will have the full picture on the calorie content of what they are being served.

New York's City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene announced this week a decision by the Board of Health which will require chain restaurants in the city to permanently list calorie information on their menus.

The new regulation comes into effect on March 31st and applies to any chain restaurants operated in the city that has 15 or more outlets nationwide which equates to around 10 percent of all New York City restaurants.

This is the latest measure in a health policy aimed at enabling consumers to make an informed choice about their food.

It comes at a time when the developed world is facing an epidemic of overweight and obesity, with millions of New York City residents affected.

New York's Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas R. Frieden says obesity and diabetes are the only major health problems that are getting worse in New York City.

Dr. Frieden says the new regulation will help New Yorkers make healthier choices about what to eat, and live longer, healthier lives as a result.

The city's health officials say chain restaurants serve food that has been clearly associated with excess calories and obesity, and research shows that people who eat fast food regularly consume more calories than those who do not.

Even though many chain restaurants already provide calorific information on the internet, in brochures or on food wrappers or tray liners, the authorities want calorie information to be displayed on the menu so the diners can use the information as they order.

They say when people have access to calorie information, that nutrition information affects their selection of the food they buy, be it in restaurants or food stores.

The health department anticipates that the regulation could reduce the number of obese people by 150,000 over the next five years and prevent 30,000 cases of diabetes, but others have doubts and say a healthy lifestyle needs to focus on more than just calories.

Experts say people need to understand that what they eat is as important as how much they eat, and also follow an overall healthy lifestyle.

According to a Community Health Survey carried out in 2005, 54% percent of adults were overweight or obese.