Several big fast food restaurants eventually agreed to mention calorie counts on the menu, apparently obeying a rule that requires fast-food chains in New York, where 54 percent of adults are overweight or obese, to display calorie counts on their menus.

At first, the NYC chain restaurants tried to be resistant to this new rule that took effect on May, assuming that some of their customers would change their eating habits if they knew all about the calories of their favorite food.

But, the many chain restaurants in New York City now have agreed to take the new law seriously and post calories on their menus, probably because of the legal action that was delayed until now.

In March, a federal court upheld a decision by the New York City Health Department to require calories counts to be posted alongside prices in City restaurants. Judge Richard J. Holwell of United States District Court in Manhattan, at the time, said that any chain with at least 15 outlets nationwide must display calorie counts on menu boards, menus or food tags. The rule therefore covers 2,000 restaurants or about 10 percent of the 23,000 in the city.

However, the legal action delayed the enforcement until now.

Starting Saturday, the city health inspectors will begin imposing fines on restaurant chains with fifteen or more locations nationwide. Such restaurants will face fines up to $2,000 per store for not displaying calorie information posted with their prices.

The rule affects such restaurants like McDonald's; Burger King; Dunkin Donuts; Applebee's, operated by DineEquity Inc; Starbucks and Subway.

Burger King and McDonalds are among the chains that already have started changing their menu boards Friday. They have started putting the calories information on their menus.

According to Cathy Nonas, director of health department’s physical activity and nutrition program, the new rule is part of an anti-obesity campaign that had also included ban on artificial trans fats in restaurant food.

In an effort to fight obesity, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene targeted national fast-food chains. Under the new regulation, they recommended that any restaurant that operates at least 15 outlets nationwide would have to display calorie content on their menu boards, menus or food tags.

Display of the calorie information is essential wherever the restaurant lists the information that customers use to make their choices. This would enable New Yorkers to make more informed, healthier choices.