BEIJING, July 21 (Xinhuanet)-- New York chain restaurants were requested to post calorie counts right on the menu, according to a new rule that took effect on Friday, marking a first for a U.S. city.

    As part of anti-obesity campaign, the rule requires restaurants that have 15 or more outlets nationwide to pose calorie information alongside their prices and affects more than 2,000 restaurants or 10 percent of the total in the city.

    As of Saturday, New York City health inspectors can issue citations to fine restaurants that do not comply with the city's calorie posting rule. The fine ranges from 200 U.S. dollars to 2,000 dollars.

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

    Officials say the rule could prevent at least 150,000 New Yorkers from becoming obese and prevent at least 30,000 from developing diabetes over the next five years.

    However, analysts said they did not expect the rule to have much impact on consumer habits and some New Yorkers appeared unfazed by the rule.

    "I'm going to eat whatever I'm going to eat," Erika Roberson, 19, was quoted as saying as he left an Applebee's restaurant in Brooklyn.

    The rule had been planned to take effect in April, but was delayed because New York State fought against the rule in court. In the end, a high court sided with the city and upheld the regulation.

    A health observer suggested that counting calories is not the right way for people to maintain a healthy weight because few people could keep counting calories for a lifetime.

    The key to fighting obesity is to eat the right foods, according to Dr. Colin T. Campbell, a distinguished nutrition professor retired from Cornell University.

    Dietary guidelines for adults recommend about 2,000 calories a day, depending on age, gender and activity.

(Agencies)