A recent review of nutrition data and menu items at major fast-food chains in the US highlights the alarming levels of calories, fat, sodium, and added sugar in their meals. Here are the top 10 unhealthiest fast-food restaurants in the US, along with some of their most calorie-dense menu items:
- Wendy’s: A Triple Baconator meal with large fries and medium Frosty contains approximately 2,160 calories, 54g of saturated fat, and 3,400mg of sodium.
- Sonic: A Sonic Cheeseburger combo with medium tots and 32-oz Cherry Limeade contains around 1,600 calories and 3,000mg of sodium.
- Taco Bell: A Beefy 5-Layer Burrito plus Baja Blast reaches 970 calories and 1,770mg of sodium.
- Dairy Queen: A medium Oreo Blizzard contains 1,080 calories and 44g of fat, while the six-piece Chicken Strip Basket with gravy and fries adds 1,300 calories, 2,400mg of sodium, and 21g of saturated fat.
- KFC: A three-piece Extra Crispy combo with biscuit and mashed-potato gravy hits approximately 1,300 calories, 2,900mg of sodium, and 22g of saturated fat.
- Quiznos: A 12-inch Classic Italian sub contains around 1,300 calories and 2,850mg of sodium.
- McDonald’s: A Big Mac meal with large fries and soda tops 1,300 calories and half a day’s saturated fat.
- Smashburger: A large BBQ Bacon Cheddar burger supplies 1,050 calories and 28g of saturated fat.
- Little Caesars: A $5 Hot-N-Ready pepperoni pizza packs approximately 2,140 calories and 4,260mg of sodium.
- Chick-fil-A: An original chicken sandwich with medium waffle fries delivers around 800 calories and 750mg of sodium.
These fast-food chains often use marketing tactics and bargain pricing to encourage frequent visits and oversized portions, contributing to higher risks of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
