The fat and sugar in high-calorie foods will cause weight gain if you can't exercise enough to burn the extra calories. Many fast foods are the worst in this double-jeopardy category. Fatty foods and sweetened desserts and beverages crowd the good nutrition out of your meals and cause you to store fat. To maintain a healthy weight, avoid the worst high-cal offenders as much as possible.
Double-Patty Hamburgers
Ignoring portion control at the drive-through can cost you 576 calories when you order a double-meat burger. The American Heart Association reports that even a single-patty sandwich, with 512 calories, exceeds the recommended 3-oz serving of beef.
Tacos
While taco ingredients aren't dangerously high-calorie foods on their own, together, fried tortillas, beef, beans, cheese and extras create one of the worst fatty foods. A single large fast-food taco, with 32 g fat, contributes 571 calories toward an average 2,000-calorie daily total, according to the USDA Nutrient Database.
Biscuit and Egg Sandwiches
Considering that 13 g fat constitutes a highly fatty food, a biscuit, sausage and egg breakfast sandwich, with 37 g fat and 562 calories, carries extra risk for weight gain. The American Diabetes Association notes that an English muffin, egg and Canadian bacon sandwich will save you over 250 calories.
French Fries
Frying causes even healthy vegetables like potatoes to become high-calorie foods. As per the USDA, the 28 g fat and 539 calories in a large order of french fries can promote unhealthy weight gain.
Fried Shrimp
Breading and frying adds 25 g fat to the precariously high cholesterol in shrimp. These fatty foods contribute 454 calories to your daily total in a 6-oz. serving, as per the USDA.
Pork Ribs
Fatty barbecued pork ribs spare you little room in your meal for other good nutrition. In just 3 oz, 337 calories are laden with 26 g fat. The USDA recommends eating meats trimmed of fat or poultry minus the skin.
Homemade Potato Salad
You don't have to eat out to encounter high-calorie foods. One cup of potato salad has 358 calories. The American Heart Association suggests avoiding salads made with mayonnaise, due to high salt, fat and cholesterol.
Ice Cream Milk Shakes
According to the American Dental Association, the 62 g sugar in a chocolate shake raise your risk for tooth decay sharply, as compared with a cola's 33 g and water's 0 g sugar. You'll also add fat 22 g fat and 493 calories per 16 oz. shake to your daily totals.
Soda Pop
The sugar and calories in a 12-oz. soda are still excessive. If you drink two small sodas a day, you'll add 66 g sugar, 274 calories and no nutrition to your diet, the USDA relates.
Added-Sugar Cereals
Whole-grain cereals with added frosting, marshmallows, peanut butter or cocoa flavoring can double unsweetened cereal's calorie count, as per the USDA. Frequently choosing a 200-calorie-per-serving brand over bran flakes, which have 100 calories or less, may gradually lead to weight gain.
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