June 2, 2009 Counting calories could become easier in Conn. Play video

(NECN: Brian Burnell) - Watching your weight may soon be easier in Connecticut. The legislature has passed a bill that would require calorie counts on the menus in most fast food restaurants. The bill still has to get to the Governor.

Experts agree there is an epidemic of obesity in this country and they blame, in large part, our fast food culture. In an effort to shrink or at least slow the growth of the girth, Connecticut lawmakers have passed a bill that would require restaurant chains with 15 or more restaurants in the state to list calorie counts of selections on their menus. It’s similar to laws already in effect in Massachusetts, California, two counties in New York and the city of Philadelphia.

Kelly Brownell is the director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University. He says it's a good idea.

Kelly Brownell, Rudd Center Director: Christina Roberto, who's one of our colleagues, did a study on menu labeling and found very powerful effects that people change what they order from restaurant menus when they were given the calories. They ordered less and they ate less so it seems to have the kind of expected results that you hope for.

A majority of Connecticut legislators agree and say their feelings reflect the will of the people of the state.

Sen. Jonathan Harris, (D) Public Health Committee: Eighty-two percent of Connecticut residents and nationally most people do support this because everyone wants

Even the fast food chains, the ones most affected by this, are not opposing this feeling it's a trend that is sweeping the nation.

Tim Phelan, Quick Service Restaurants: No, I think we've reached a position where we understand this is important and we want to make sure its done right.

That doesn't mean it will become law. Governor Jodi Rell hasn't said she'll veto it but does appear to have reservations.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell, (R) Connecticut: If you're sitting down in one of these restaurants and you order a double cheeseburger with bacon on top and lots and lots of mayonnaise and a side order of fries you don't need a calorie counter to tell you its probably not the best thing for you.

But Brownell says that's hardly the point. The calorie count is a tool for people who are trying to watch their weight. And he says, in any case, everyone has a right to know.

Kelly Brownell, Rudd Center Director: Nothing you do is going to affect everybody and so some people will continue to buy whatever they're going to buy and, of course, they're free to do that no matter what's up on the menu boards. But we think enough people will be affected and it will have a strong enough impact on their diet that you'll have a real public health impact.