- Experts rated the unhealthiest fast food cheeseburgers from 24 leading American chains.
- The researchers compared menu items based on calories, sugar, saturated fat and sodium content.
- Nutritionists explain the results.
Fast food may not always be associated with healthy food, but everything in moderation—right? Yet not all cheeseburgers, fries, or even milkshakes are created equal. So researchers tested the most popular chains and found most of them unhealthy (and least unhealthy) fast food hamburger in America.
A study conducted by PlushCare analyzed the cheeseburgers most similar to cheeseburgers at 24 leading US fast food chains. Using each chain’s nutritional menu, researchers compared calories, sugar, saturated fat and sodium content based on the Department of Health’s Nutrient Analysis Method. They then scored the menu items and added up the overall “unhealthy score” of each item at each fast food chain and ranked them by restaurants. The higher the score, the less healthy the cheeseburger is.
According to the study, some fast food restaurants left room for improvement. Especially Five Guys, which scored first place in the list of the unhealthiest cheeseburgers, with 50 points of unhealthiness. Whataburger, Smash Burger and Carl’s Jr. were next on the list. However, Five Guys’ cheeseburger had 73% more saturated fat than any other fast food cheeseburger on the list.
Diced lean ground beef on a multigrain bun offers nutritional benefits and can actually be part of a healthy diet, providing protein, iron and vitamin B12. But the World Health Organization (WHO) has found red meat and ultra-processed foods to be carcinogenic, which the study suggests may be what you get with a fast-food cheeseburger.
Burger King and McDonald’s cheeseburgers have a relatively low unhealthiness score (18 points) — each with less than a quarter of the saturated fat of a Five Guys cheeseburger and less than half that of a Wendy’s cheeseburger.
The least unhealthy cheeseburger the researchers rated was Culver’s, with 17 points. However, keep in mind that making it the “least unhealthy” on this list doesn’t necessarily make it a high-quality, healthy meal (Culver’s “Butterburger” still isn’t considered a nutritious option according to the study’s scoring methods).
The result
So, why do these “unhealthiest” levels matter? Keri Gans, MS, RD, registered dietitian and author Small change dietexplains what each of these numbers can mean for your long-term health:
- Calories: Too many calories can lead to overweight which can lead to chronic diseases, such as obesity, heart diseaseand type 2 diabetes.
- Saturated fat: Excessive intake of saturated fat has been linked to increased heart disease, high cholesterol levelsand certain cancers.
- Sugar: High levels of added sugar in the diet have been linked to increased inflammation in the body, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, fatty liver and types of diabetes.
- Sodium: Too much sodium in the food we eat can increase blood pressure and risk of cardiovascular disease.
With that in mind, you may be wondering if any of your beloved fast foods belong in a well-rounded diet. While Courtney Pelitera, MS, RD, CNSC, registered dietitian and owner Eat your lifesays no — remember there are better options for you at fast food restaurants. Instead of a cheeseburger, you could choose the following:
- Order grilled chicken in sandwiches or salads, as shown, the fried chicken meals are higher in calories and higher in fat.
- Skip the fries and opt for a salad or fruit.
- Stick to lower calorie or calorie free beverages.
Everyone should be aware of the food we eat, says Angel Planells, MS, RDNSeattle-based nutritionist and national media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics. “And whether people like it or not, fast food is here to stay.” That being said, there are certain demographics that should be more aware and that would be anyone with any health condition that is sensitive to sodium, fat or sugar (ie high blood pressure, heart, diabetes and any type of kidney/kidney problem ), he comments.
For so many, fast food is hard to beat for cost and convenience, because what’s more important is the choice they make there, Gans says. “Let’s also remember that there are also opportunities in other meals and snacks each week to choose healthier foods, such as fruit, vegetables and 100% whole grains.”
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