Calorie counts on chain restaurant menus were devised to help the health-conscious consumer — you know, the type who already cares about eating right —make more informed choices when eating out.

The information was not meant, or realistically expected, to rescue America from the jaws of an overgrown obesity epidemic.

So recent studies showing the nutritional labels are having minimal impact on certain populations should be greeted with a gaping yawn. The demographics studied — namely low-income kids and adults — historically indulge in eating habits that have proven particularly resistant to change.

In fact, the only surprising thing about such studies is that anyone would find their results surprising.

Nicole Brochu: Calorie counts on menus were not meant to solve Americas obesity crisis – latimes.com