NEW YORK, NY May 18, 2009 —Governor Paterson is touting the successes of New York City's calorie posting law, as he pushes for a statewide equivalent. He says while the state spends more than $6 billion a year on obesity-related diseases, New York City residents are eating 52 calories less per meal since chain restaurants were required to post calorie counts.

PATERSON: This is why we think that calorie posting is so important -- because statistics show that when people know the amount of calories in their choices, they actually make better choices.

Paterson's legislation would be broader than New York City's initiative, requiring calorie counts on menus in supermarkets, convenience stores, and other retailers that belong to large chains.