Freakonomics Says Calorie Counts Don't Do Jack. Cheddar Jack. Cheese. Who's Hungry?
Sad news for liberal do-gooder types who think, if they just try hard enough, the rest of the world will ditch their Big Macs for arugula. 
In hindsight, maybe it wasn't worth the coronary.
*raises hand*
From the Freakonomics blog, which highlights a NYU School of Medicine study trying to figure out if that state's law requiring restaurants to post calorie counts on their menus, similar to one that we just passed in Washington, has had any effect on eating habits.
What did they learn?"We found that 27.7 percent [of people] who saw calorie labeling in New York said the information influenced their choices."
Great news, right? Um, no:
"However, we did not detect a change in calories purchased after the introduction of calorie labeling."
Ahhh. So what you're saying is that better information doesn't change behavior? And that just because you tell someone that the Carl's Jr. Double Six Dollar burger comes with enough calories to sustain a tribe of bushmen through the rainy season doesn't mean they'll magically have the money, nor the motivation, to buy something healthier?
Fascinating.
9 comment(s)
steve gentis says:
Or maybe they just want to eat a damned greasy cheeseburger and they do not care what all of the Vegan nutrition Nazis in the world think about it.
Maybe-from their new-found informed point of view they want a damned cheeseburger with everything.
I have an entire huge garden full of fresh produce in my backyard-grown with a lot of love and labor.....I eat all of it, but sometimes I eat total crap-gooey cheese melting off hunks of semi-raw beef.
You can't fix everything, and you can't control people's behaviour. This seems (at this late date-I figured that out when I was 22) to be big news to a lot of people.
I know! Let's just make everything illegal! It'll be great-we'll all starve to death, but our body fat counts will be incredibly low.
God knows-everybody's gotta go sometime...do you want cheese on that?
Posted On: Friday, Oct. 9 2009 @ 11:26PM
Sarah says:
I believe the point of the caloric information was to show people how much they are taking into their bodies not make them into vegan soy chip munchers.
Honestly when I went to JITB and saw that the Chipotle Chix Chiabatta combo I ate on occasion had 1200-1600 calories I was shocked! Although I did have the ignorant mindset that fried chicken breast was healthier than beef (or I lied to myself and told my brain that) and then when you put it on a dense carb bun.... yikes! For some it's common sense for others it's not.
I appreciate the calorie information because it does help me make a better informed decision or at least know where I'm at daily so I don't overindulge later if I do decide to get that chipoltle chicken sandwich!
Posted On: Saturday, Oct. 10 2009 @ 4:11AM
Fran Severn says:
Eat right. Exercise regularly. Die anyway. Somehow, I doubt if someone ordering a double bacon cheeseburger with mega fries and a supersized regular soda at a fast food joint is not aware that they are not eating 'healthily.' And I doubt if they really care.
Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 15 2009 @ 1:40PM
Alexis says:
What an asinine post. Why even bother writing this?
Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 15 2009 @ 1:57PM
Alan says:
I agree with you, Alexis. It was asinine.
Why DID you write it?
Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 15 2009 @ 2:32PM
c says:
Um, ok maybe not for some people, but I personally find that the posted calorie counts are helpful.
In fact, knowing how much fans of data the Freakonomics bloggers are, you'd think they'd welcome this information with open arms!
And last, many kudos to the fast food restaurants for trying their best. I sympathize with their plight....how to help people that can't help themselves??
Personally I find morbidly fat people f**** disgusting,
perhaps it has something to do with the fact that morbid fatness is almost completely correlated with a total lack of self-respect and self-worth.
It's not that hard to eat right, and the calorie counts are just another piece of data, overall I just don't see how anyone can take offense at them.
Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 15 2009 @ 4:48PM
Mark Richardson says:
So perhaps the problem is inanimacy of the objects. Perhaps priming with images of people eating healthy lower fat meals along with the calorie intake would change behavior. A list alone wouldn't unless perhaps it is a list of diseases from obesity
Posted On: Friday, Oct. 16 2009 @ 9:47AM
Alex says:
Caleb,
Why do you sound so angry? Is it because you think it sounds funny? Or were you traumatized by a liberal vegetarian in your youth?
And are you against giving people information about what they eat? It sounds like you are, but you don't come right out and say it.
Maybe this is part of a longer process, as people get more education about healthy choices, over time they may make better decisions. Or maybe not, but I can sure think of a lot better things to get riled up about.
Posted On: Friday, Oct. 16 2009 @ 11:52AM
Caleb says:
Actually just the opposite, Alex. I'm a vegetarian who skews Democrat (shocking, right?) and I think it's a great idea to force companies to give consumers as much information as possible about their food options.
The post was just meant to show my frustration at the results of this study. Despite the best efforts of people who want the world to be a healthier place, in this scenario simply posting calorie counts didn't do much to change behavior.
Posted On: Friday, Oct. 16 2009 @ 12:28PM