People eat greasy fast food because it tastes good. Most are fully aware that it’s bad for them, and having the numbers in front of them isn’t going to make that any clearer than it already is.

But according to an article in The New York Times, the New York City Board of Health is considering a plan to make it clear to customers just how unhealthy Big Macs are.

The proposal would require certain restaurants to post foods’ calorie content on the menu, where they can be clearly seen.

The rule would only apply to restaurants, such as fast-food chains, that prepare servings of food to exact specifications and that already post nutrition information in their restaurants or online.

Undoubtedly, Americans eat too much fatty food. But posting calorie contents is not going to deter them from ordering it.

Awareness of the health hazards of fast food is not the problem. Fast-food lawsuits and documentaries have garnered national attention. Many fast-food chains have responded to the obesity crisis by including healthier selections on their menus. But customers still continue ordering fatty, mayo-loaded burgers and grease-soaked French fries. It doesn’t take a nutritionist to know there are healthier options, but it’s the customers’ choice to make. The customers who are truly concerned about calorie content are already ordering healthier meals or avoiding fast-food restaurants altogether.

The rule would set a precedent for future overregulation. Where would lawmakers draw the line? Would small family diners be forced to list their nutrition facts next? It could end up hurting business.

Restaurants would probably find ways to circumvent the rule, such as defining smaller serving sizes than customers are ordering or displaying the information as inconspicuously as possible.

Restaurants can provide all the warnings and health information they want, but ultimately, the customer’s food choice is his or her own decision. In the end, people need to take responsibility for their own waistlines.