Alverno Alpha : Lets Burn Off Those Burgers and Shakes!

http://www.alvernoalpha.com/opinion/2013/04/26/lets-burn-off-those-burgers-and-shakes/[5/3/2013 11:22:10 AM]

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Lets Burn Off Those Burgers and Shakes!
Alissa Rosado, Staff Writer
April 26, 2013
Filed under Opinion
Does the number of calories in food usually make you
think of the amount of exercise that would be required
in order to burn them off?
More restaurants are displaying calorie counts on their
menus, but researchers argue that this has not shown a
decrease in the food people are consuming. Something
more effective should be done.
Fast food chains and restaurants are being required to
display their calorie counts on their menus. In New
York, specifically, it is mandated that calorie counts be
displayed on all menus. It is important to have this
information in order for consumers to know the number
of calories they are taking in.
Despite the calorie counts being added, studies have
shown that people arent eating less. Strangely enough,
some surveys indicated it actually resulted in people
ordering more.
Dr. Meena Shah and Asheli J ames, researchers from
Texas Christian University, feel that a better approach
is needed. They suggest that the calorie count should
be replaced with the number of minutes of brisk walking
a person would need to complete to burn off what they
just consumed.
Brisk walking was chosen because the researchers felt
that it is a physical activity that most people can do, and
it easily fits into a persons everyday schedule.
The researchers decided to test their theory and came
up with an experiment. The study was based on
younger adults because they tend to exercise more than older adults.
The researchers gathered 300 men and women ages 18 to 30. They were randomly assigned to order lunch from
one of the three menus: one included no calorie counts, one included the calorie count, and the last one was
labeled with the minutes of walking needed to burn the calories. The menus all offered the same types of food,
such as burgers, chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, salads, fries, desserts, soda and water.
J ames and Shahs theory was proven to be more helpful for consumers. The participants who were provided with
the walking information ordered fewer calories in comparison to those who ordered from the menu without the
calorie labels.
The information gathered from the study suggested that including caloric information on menus may help
consumers take into account how much they truly are eating. Although the study was focused on young adults,
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Alverno Alpha : Lets Burn Off Those Burgers and Shakes!
http://www.alvernoalpha.com/opinion/2013/04/26/lets-burn-off-those-burgers-and-shakes/[5/3/2013 11:22:10 AM]
Copyright 2013 Alverno Alpha Gazette Design by School Newspapers Online Log in
researchers say the indications could be effective for changing habits for all adults. One to two hours of moderate
exercise would be required to burn off the calories in some of the energy-dense foods.
Shah says that including information about the relationship between calories consumed and exercise necessary
could help people make better decisions regarding their food. The more information people have, she says, the
more informed their choices might be.
Knowing the amount of exercise it would take to burn off food would definitely put things into perspective for
many.
Tags: Calorie Counts, Exercise Labels, Restaurant Menus