title: The effect of menu labeling with calories and exercise equivalents on food selection and consumption.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Better techniques are needed to help consumers make lower calorie food choices. This pilot study examined the effect of menu labeling with caloric information and exercise equivalents (EE) on food selection. Participants, 62 females, ages 18-34, recruited for this study, ordered a fast food meal with menus that contained the names of the food (Lunch 1 (L1), control meal). One week later (Lunch 2 (L2), experiment meal), participants ordered a meal from one of three menus with the same items as the previous week: no calorie information, calorie information only, or calorie information and EE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no absolute differences between groups in calories ordered from L1 to L2. However, it is noteworthy that calorie only and calorie plus exercise equivalents ordered about 16% (206 kcal) and 14% (162 kcal) fewer calories from Lunch 1 to Lunch 2, respectively; whereas, the no information group ordered only 2% (25 kcal) fewer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Menu labeling alone may be insufficient to reduce calories; however, further research is needed in finding the most effective ways of presenting the menu labels for general public.
authors.affiliation: City University of New York School of Public Health, Hunter College, Nutrition and Food Science Program, Hunter College, Silberman Bldg, 2180 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10035 USA.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Platkin
authors.affiliation: City University of New York School of Public Health, Hunter College, Nutrition and Food Science Program, Hunter College, Silberman Bldg, 2180 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10035 USA.
authors.forename: Ming-Chin
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.affiliation: City University of New York School of Public Health, Hunter College, Nutrition and Food Science Program, Hunter College, Silberman Bldg, 2180 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10035 USA.
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.affiliation: CUNY School of Public Health, Graduate Center, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Ellen Weiss
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Wiewel
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Mathematics and Institute of Statistics, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chang-Yun
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, Taichung City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ho-Jui
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Tung
authors.affiliation: The University of Scranton, Scranton, PA USA.
authors.forename: Victoria H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Castellanos
keywords: Exercise equivalents; Fast food; Menu labeling; Nutrition labeling; Obesity; Point-of-purchase