Fast Food Facts: Calories and Fat

Blossom Paravattil, Cancer Prevention and Treatment Fund

Fast Food Facts

Let’s face it: With so much to do, it’s hard to eat right on the go.  And no matter how compelling you found the movies Fast Food Nation or Super Size Me, you sometimes find yourself making the occasional purchase at the nearest Wendy’s. While avoiding fast food may be the wisest and most health-conscious option, it may not be the most realistic.

With so many Americans being obese, President Obama signed a new law into the health care reform bill that requires every big restaurant chain (more than 20 stores) to post calorie information on every menu and drive-thru sign, as well as the amount of calories a healthy person should eat. The bill went into effect in this year.  The law also requires vending machines to have nutritional information on them

How Many Calories Should I be Consuming in a Day?

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has recommended dietary guidelines that include the number of calories you should consume a day, depending on your age, level of activity, and whether you are a man or woman. The chart below will help you find out how many calories you should be getting. If you regularly consume more than the recommended amount, you will gain weight.

Recommended Daily Calorie Intake by Gender and Age based on Activity Level

Source: HHS/USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005 

Sedentary means a lifestyle that includes only the light physical activity associated with typical day-to-day life. Moderately active means a lifestyle that includes physical activity equivalent to walking about 1.5 to 3 miles per day at 3 to 4 miles per hour, in addition to the light physical activity associated with typical day-to-day life.  Active means a lifestyle that includes physical activity equivalent to waling more than 3 miles per day at 3 to 4 miles per hour, in addition to the light physical activity associated with typical day-to-day life. The calorie ranges shown are to accommodate needs of different ages within the group. For children and adolescents, more calories are needed at older ages. For adults, fewer calories are needed at older ages. So we at the Cancer Prevention and Treatment Fund give you the skinny on a variety of menu choices offered by some of the most popular fast food chains. Take a look–you may be surprised!

Fast Foods by Category

1http://healthreform.gov/documents/title_iv_prevention_of_chronic_disease.pdf

2 USDA. (2008). Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005.