For those of you who enjoy both fast-food and counting calories – probably the same people that order a double cheeseburger, large fries and a diet soda – there is good news: Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell will start posting the amount of calories on each menu item.

Hopefully this is a trend that other fast-food restaurants across the nation will incorporate. Last year, 22.6 percent of Californians were considered obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. The website defines “obese” as having a body mass index of 30 or higher. For example, a male who stands 5’9″ and weighs 203 pounds or more is considered obese, with a BMI of 30.

This may be misleading due to the fact that there are athletes and bodybuilders who exceed the “healthy” weight even though they are in top physical condition. Still, at almost one-fourth of the population of California, this statistic is alarming.

In 2003, a man tried to sue McDonald’s (unsuccessfully) because he claimed the food made him fat. Who would’ve thought? With the calories posted on the menu for each item, the customer will hopefully be more aware that the food they are eating a) isn’t good for them and b) has a lot of calories and will make you fat, if you eat enough of it.

Prior to the calorie posting on the menus, most fast-food restaurants would have pamphlets with nutritional information, or one could find this information on the restaurant’s website.

I am under the impression that the majority of the people who eat at fast-food places aren’t aware of exactly how many calories they are taking in. It’s unlikely that the numbers they see on the menu board will surprise many people.

This information won’t be deterring anyone from eating fast food, although it probably should. I don’t see somebody walking in, about to order a bucket of chicken or a large pizza but then stop his or herself upon realizing it has thousands of calories. Maybe it will convince them to eat it less frequently.

Here are some examples of what you will be learning at a fast-food location near you. A slice of pepperoni pizza from Pizza Hut has 280 calories and 15 grams of fat, according to the company’s website. A grilled stuft burrito from Taco Bell has 680 calories and 30 grams of fat, according to its website. A meal from KFC including an individual popcorn chicken, a biscuit, a side of mac-and-cheese, and a medium Pepsi has 980 calories and 45 grams of fat.

The calories add up extremely fast.

In the busy, fast-paced society we live in today, people want things quick, easy and (relatively) cheap, even at the cost of eating unhealthy.

Including the calorie count is a good law. If we choose to eat such foods, we should be aware of what we’re eating.

Kyle Kershner can be reached at [email protected]