Fast food is convenient and inexpensive, but most menu choices are not healthy. Some fast food meals contain as much fat, calories and salt as you should be getting in an entire day. People who regularly eat fast food consume more calories and fat, and less fiber, fruits and vegetables than those who only eat it occasionally, reports the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The typical foods found in fast food restaurants may be contributing to health concerns, including obesity and heart disease.
Fat
Many of the menu selections at fast food restaurants are very high in fat, which increases your risk of heart disease. This is true of traditional fast food burgers and fries, but many items that appear healthier are still high in fat. A 2,000-calorie diet should not exceed 78 g of fat per day, of which no more than 15 g should be saturated. A Big Bacon Classic hamburger at Wendy's has 31 g of fat, 12 g of which are saturated. A Double Whopper with cheese at Burger King contains 65 g of fat, of which 25 g are saturated. A large order of fries at McDonald's has 25 g of fat, of which 5 g are saturated. Even a healthy sounding Original Recipe chicken breast at KFC is high in fat, with 24 g, 6 g of which are saturated.
Calories
Consistently consuming more calories than you burn results in weight gain. Much of what is offered at fast food restaurants is too high in calories to be part of a healthy meal plan. A taco salad with salsa at Taco Bell has 850 calories, a Deluxe Breakfast at McDonald's contains 1,220 calories, the king size fries at Burger King have 540 calories, and the spaghetti with meatballs at Pizza Hut contains 850 calories. Eating a fast food meal leaves little to no calories left over for the rest of the day.
Sodium
Fast food is often very high in sodium. A diet too high in salt increases your risk of developing high blood pressure. Recommendations for intake are 1,500 to 2,300 mg per day. A five-piece Chicken Selects at McDonald's contains 1,550 mg of sodium, the Big Chicken Burrito Supreme at Taco Bell has 1,660 mg, a large chili at Wendy's has 1,190 mg and a Chunky Chicken Pot Pie at KFC weighs in with 2,160 mg.
Recommendations
Eating a fast food meal now and then isn't going to kill you, but consistently doing so could result in health problems down the road. When choosing a meal at a fast food restaurant, it is important to read the menu and nutritional information so that you are able to make an informed decision. The Palo Alto Medical Foundation recommends limiting mayonnaise and sauces on your burgers and sandwiches, choosing grilled chicken over fried, ordering salad dressing on the side, having a baked potato or side salad instead of fries and drinking water instead of soda.
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