All chain restaurants in the US are now required to provide calorie information on menus. Though it was originally enacted in the 2015 Affordable Care Act, it has taken years to overcome opposition from various companies.

Margo Wootan, the vice president for nutrition at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, has been working on this initiative since 2003. “Calories are really important because obesity is one of the most pressing health problems of our day, contributing to heart disease, cancer and especially diabetes,” Wootan said in an interview with Mic.

Though calories are not the only thing to be aware of when working to maintain a healthy and balanced diet, this motion is a crucial step towards raising dietary awareness. Wooten explained that “Calories are not the only piece of information people need, but they can give people a general idea of the size and a basis for comparing.”

While diet and portion control will always be up to the consideration of the consumer, being transparent about the foods people consume every day may help guide Americans on the path to a healthy lifestyle.