Most Kids, Teens Ignore Fast-Food Restaurant Calorie Info When Buying Meals

A U.S. study based on a survey of 721 kids and teens ages 9 to 18 found that only four out of ten pay attention to calorie information posted on chain or fast-food restaurant menus. Girls were about 80 percent more likely than boys to say they checked calorie content when choosing food items. Kids who said they ate at a fast food/chain restaurant twice a week were half as likely to report using calorie information. One encouraging sign was that overweight youths were much more likely to pay attention to calorie information when choosing foods. “This may have potential to lead to improved food choices as a way to manage weight,” researchers said.