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Fast Food Unfriendly and Unhealthy
Fast Food Unfriendly and Unhealthy
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Arne Astrup
University of Copenhagen
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Fast food: unfriendly and unhealthy
S Stender1, J Dyerberg1 and A Astrup2
1
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Gentofte Hospital University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark and
2
Department of Human Nutrition, Centre for Advanced Food Studies, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen,
Copenhagen, Denmark
Although nutrition experts might be able to navigate the menus of fast-food restaurant chains, and based on the nutritional
information, compose apparently ‘healthy’ meals, there are still many reasons why frequent fast-food consumption at most
chains is unhealthy and contributes to weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease. Fast food generally has
a high-energy density, which, together with large portion sizes, induces over consumption of calories. In addition, we have
found it to be a myth that the typical fast-food meal is the same worldwide. Chemical analyses of 74 samples of fast-food menus
consisting of French fries and fried chicken (nuggets/hot wings) bought in McDonalds and KFC outlets in 35 countries in 2005–
2006 showed that the total fat content of the same menu varies from 41 to 65 g at McDonalds and from 42 to 74 g at KFC. In
addition, fast food from major chains in most countries still contains unacceptably high levels of industrially produced trans-fatty
acids (IP-TFA). IP-TFA have powerful biological effects and may contribute to increased weight gain, abdominal obesity, type 2
diabetes and coronary artery disease. The food quality and portion size need to be improved before it is safe to eat frequently at
most fast-food chains.
International Journal of Obesity (2007) 31, 887–890; doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803616; published online 24 April 2007
0 20 40 60 80 100
Hungary (32%)
Iceland (20%)
USA, Boston (29%)
Bulgaria (34%)
The Netherlands (8%)
Malaysia (2%)
Spain, Malaga (4%)
Canada (20%)
Spain, Barcelona (4%)
Spain, Madrid (0%)
Romania (26%)
Thailand (7%)
Poland (34%)
China (6%)
USA, NYC (10%)
Portugal (4%)
Bahamas (19%)
Peru (31%)
Germany, Hamburg (9%)
Germany, Wiesbaden (1%)
Czech republic (29%)
UK, Glasgow (5%)
India (1%)
Russia (1%)
S. Africa, Jo.berg (15%)
Denmark (2%) KFC
Oman (14%)
UK, Aberdeen (2%)
S. Africa, Durban (18%)
France (10%)
UK, London (9%)
0 20 40 60 80 100
Figure 1 The entire length of the bar (both colours included) indicates the amounts of total fat in a large fast-food meal consisting of 171 g French fries and 160 g
chicken nuggets. The darker colour indicates the amounts of industrially produced trans fat. The values in parenthesis are the amounts of trans fat as a percentage of
total fat.