10 Of the Most Unhealthy Fast Food Restaurants in the US
According to a report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 37% of American adults consume fast food on a given day. The research, conducted from 2013 – 2016, showed about 85 million adults ate some fast food at a restaurant, mainly for lunch or as a snack. With an increase in fast food consumption, comes an increase in the probability of diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure.
Fast food joints are a dime a dozen in the US, but some stand out for their infamous menu of unhealthy options. Here is a list of ten of the unhealthiest fast-food restaurants in the US.
In-N-Out
With 347 chain outlets scattered all over the US, each In-N-Out store serves on average of about 560 burgers per day. Doing the math, that equates to almost 200,000 burgers a day! With each burger serving up a whopping 400 calories with a side of 700 milligrams of sodium, you will not be doing your body any favors by gobbling down these tasty meaty meals every day. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
McDonald’s
The world-renowned fast food joint has a 64-year history of serving delightfully yummy burgers. With nearly 14,000 locations all over the US, it is easy to see why McDonald’s is so popular. A lot of people did not know how unhealthy the meals were until a 2004 documentary titled “Super-Size Me” uncovered some hard truths. 490 calories are what you get when you chomp down the large fries. You would have to run for 56 minutes to burn that off. Yes, 56 minutes!
Smashburger
Founded in 2007 in Denver, Smashburger has 370 restaurants worldwide, with chains in 37 of the 50 US states. Fancy some chili cheese fries with the famous Colorado Burger? Well, you will have taken a total of 1,581 calories. Throw in a chocolate shake, and that number shoots up to almost 2,400 calories. That single meal has enough calories to sustain an average man for a day.
Dairy Queen
This restaurant is your one-stop-shop for all matters ice cream. Savor some sweet treats, including their famous Blizzard Treats that range in calorie count from 290 to 1330 calories. Sure, it is nice to treat yourself to something tasty once in a while, but the occasional visit to Dairy Queen will leave you piling on the pounds pretty fast.
Chipotle
Founded nearly 27 years ago, Chipotle quickly became a craze among young people leading to its expansion. Currently, the fast-food franchise is in 2,580 locations in the US as it continues to serve an ever-growing market. Chipotle does not depend on a lot of grease when compared to other fast-food joints. However, they use lots of artificial flavors and extracts to add zest to their food, which is not the healthiest option. The buffet-style of serving also encourages overindulging in their culinary calory delights.
Taco Bell
Tacos are an American favorite. On average, Americans consume 4.5 billion tacos each year. Boasting 5,500 restaurants in the United States, Taco Bell also offers burritos, nachos, and quesadillas. Their breakfast crunch wraps all have well over 600 calories each. The restaurant has come under fire for selling suspicious meat products that some argue is not real meat.
Cinnabon
The delightful scent of these pastry stores draws in customers in droves. The store now has 658 locations in the United States and offers a plethora of tasty treats. One bun could carry as many as 1,092 calories and deliver 56 grams of fat. That means one bun has as many calories to meet half of your daily energy requirement. The menu lacks items that are particularly healthy, with the smallest bun, the Minibon, carrying 300 calories.
Kentucky Fried Chicken
On average, each American consumes 200 pounds of chicken each year. That goes to show how much Americans are attached to their chicken. From drumsticks to nuggets, KFC offers a variety of tasty deep-fried chicken options. Unfortunately, their menu items are often packed with high levels of sodium. The original recipe chicken breast, for instance, comes with 1130 milligrams of sodium. High sodium levels increase blood pressure while adding the risk of heart and kidney disease.
Five Guys
From cheeseburgers to grilled cheese sandwiches, Five Guys is one of America’s most famous burger chains. With over 1,500 locations and a further 1,500 in development, the restaurant has a significant chunk in the fast-food industry. Their menu contains high calory, high sodium items with the bacon cheeseburger, for instance, packing an incredible 920 calories and 1300 milligrams of sodium. Your taste buds might be ecstasy, but your heart will not be a happy camper.
Wendy’s
Wendy’s offers items such as wraps, sandwiches, cheeseburgers, fries, and combos. All is not well in the calory sector, though. Take the Ultimate Chicken Grill sandwich, for instance, that comes with 1,080 milligrams of sodium, 10 grams of fat, and 390 calories. That’s not what you would term as heart-healthy dining.
Facts
Almost 37% of American adults consume fast food on a given day.
That percentage translates to about 85 million Americans eating fast food each day.
An increase in the consumption of fast food increases the chance of getting diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
Links
https://www.thetravel.com/we-present-americas-20-most-unhealthy-fast-food-chains/
https://www.therecipe.com/unhealthiest-food-chains-usa-around-the-world/
https://www.editorchoice.com/worst-fast-food/15/
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db322.htm