Brace yourself for the calorie equivalent of “sticker shock.”

Tucked into the giant health care overhaul that passed last week is a provision requiring restaurant chains with 20 or more locations to disclose “in a clear and conspicuous manner” calorie counts for every item on the menu, right next to the name of the dish on the restaurant’s menu board. A similar requirement will apply to food items sold in vending machines. An accompanying statement listing the suggested daily intake of calories also is required, presumably so that diners can see just how badly some menu items will blow their diets.

Health officials are hoping that diners will make healthier choices when confronted with calorie information. A top executive for Panera Bread — which announced March 10 that it will be the first nationwide chain to post calorie counts voluntarily in its company-owned restaurants — said he has seen evidence of that happening as Panera introduced its new menu boards elsewhere in the U.S.

“We’ve seen (customers) gravitating toward options that allow them to customize their meals ... to create a meal with fewer calories,” said Scott Davis, Panera’s chief concept officer.

But one local doctor, who specializes in nutrition issues, is not convinced that the new mandates will change consumer behavior significantly.

“As a physician who treats patients with obesity, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure on a daily basis, I would love to think that posting nutritional information on restaurant menus would have a positive impact on what my patients choose to eat,” said Dr. Susan E. Williams, director of the Center for Nutrition and Metabolic Medicine for Kettering Health Network-Greene Memorial Hospital.

“But we were hopeful for similar effects with the ‘new’ nutrition food labels on foods that have been out for years — the labels are in fine print, confusing, and often misinterpreted. ...

“I can’t imagine that this will make a significant impact on the obesity pandemic in this country,” Williams said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2258 or mfisher@DaytonDailyNews.com.