[http://commprojects.jhsph.edu/emailmgr/news/e_newsrelease2_r1_c1.gif] : May 9, 2013 [http://commprojects.jhsph.edu/emailmgr/news/e_newsrelease2_r4_c1.gif] How State and Local Governments Can Address the Obesity Epidemic With simple and innovative measures, public agencies at state and local levels can play a significant role in promoting healthier eating habits-steps that could make a difference in curbing the nation's obesity epidemic. One effective option, according to researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, is requiring restaurants to include calorie counts on menus, along with the physical activity equivalents required to burn off a meal. The researchers, who examined studies on calorie labeling and regulatory options available to local governments, offer several recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of menu labeling. The suggestions are especially applicable to chain restaurants with fewer than 20 locations, a category that represents more than half of the restaurants in the U.S. These eateries are not subject to the federal Affordable Care Act's menu- labeling provision. It requires chain restaurants with more than 20 locations to provide calorie information on their menus and menu boards, as well as a statement addressing daily recommended caloric intake. The findings are featured in a Perspective in the May 9 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. Read more<https://lists.jhsph.edu/t/222238/134177/931/0/>. For public health news updated throughout the day, visit our Public Health News Center<https://lists.jhsph.edu/t/222238/134177/250/0/>. (c) 2013, Johns Hopkins University, all rights reserved. Web policies<https://lists.jhsph.edu/t/222238/134177/252/0/>, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore MD 21205-2179, 410-955-6878 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> If you wish to unsubscribe from the NFS-L List, please send an E-mail to: "[log in to unmask]". Within the body of the text, only write the following:"SIGNOFF NFS-L".