Adults get 11 percent of calories from fast food


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ATLANTA (AP) ? On an average day, U.S. adults get roughly 11 percent of their calories from fast food, a government study shows.

That's down slightly from the 13 percent reported the last time the government tried to pin down how much of the American diet is coming from fast food. Eating fast food too frequently has been seen as a driver of America's obesity problem.

For the research, about 11,000 adults were asked extensive questions about what they ate and drank over the previous 24 hours to come up with the results.

Among the findings:

? Young adults eat more fast food than their elders; 15 percent of calories for ages 20 to 39 and dropping to 6 percent for those 60 and older.

? Blacks get more of their calories from fast-food, 15 percent compared to 11 percent for whites and Hispanics.

? Young black adults got a whopping 21 percent from the likes of Wendy's, Taco Bell and KFC.

The figures are averages. Included in the calculations are some people who almost never eat fast food, as well as others who eat a lot of it.

The survey covers the years 2007 through 2010 and was released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The authors couldn't explain why the proportion of calories from fast food dropped from the 13 percent found in a survey for 2003 through 2006.

There was no difference seen by household income, except for young adults. The poorest ? those with an annual household income of less than $30,000 ? got 17 percent of their calories from fast food, while the figure was under 14 percent for the most affluent 20- and 30-somethings with a household income of more than $50,000.

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There was no difference seen by household income, except for young adults. The poorest ? those with an annual household income of less than $30,000 ? got 17 percent of their calories from fast food, while the figure was under 14 percent for the most affluent 20- and 30-somethings with a household income of more than $50,000.

really? so poor people are spending more on fast food ? I can eat for 3 months on 100-140 quid depending on what extra spices I need ... if you are poor why waste cash on fast food? 1 fast food meal can be the same as 3 days worth of food for me (dont get me wrong I eat lots of fast food because I can afford it, but when i used to be unable to it was foolish to buy it)

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really? so poor people are spending more on fast food ? I can eat for 3 months on 100-140 quid depending on what extra spices I need ... if you are poor why waste cash on fast food? 1 fast food meal can be the same as 3 days worth of food for me (dont get me wrong I eat lots of fast food because I can afford it, but when i used to be unable to it was foolish to buy it)

Fast food is actually quite cheap, at least over here. At McDonalds I can eat "enough" for ?3 or ?4. When I order pizza it's ?7-?8. When I go shopping myself to cook something it's always around ?10 or more, and that is all per meal. OK, I do go to the 'expensive' supermarket (think Waitrose - M&S) though.

I rarely ever eat fast food though. Order a proper pizza (low-fat) two to three times a month and McD's a few times a year but that's it.

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I don't see any harm as long as 'fast' food isn't your main diet.

I've never saw much difference in getting a cheeseburger, eating out, and cooking meatloaf or mac & cheese at home.

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I don't see any harm as long as 'fast' food isn't your main diet.

I've never saw much difference in getting a cheeseburger, eating out, and cooking meatloaf or mac & cheese at home.

its the hydrogenated (i think i have spelt that very very wrong) fat and adatives .. a bigger cheese burger at home will most likely be less bad for you then a take out one

Fast food is actually quite cheap, at least over here. At McDonalds I can eat "enough" for ?3 or ?4. When I order pizza it's ?7-?8. When I go shopping myself to cook something it's always around ?10 or more, and that is all per meal. OK, I do go to the 'expensive' supermarket (think Waitrose - M&S) though.

I rarely ever eat fast food though. Order a proper pizza (low-fat) two to three times a month and McD's a few times a year but that's it.

It can be like that here to but no one plans it ... I cook ALL my home meals from scratch ... 1 onion, bacon, salt, pepper, garlic, noodles and water... enough to feed me for 2 large portion meals and i still throw some away and it costs me 2 quid to make and thats because of the bacon... if people planned more and new how to cook things would be cheaper .. I host dinner parties (i am sounding more gay the more i talk arnt I) ?? for 10 pounds and everyone is full by the end of it (last dinner party was 8 people) just over 1 pound per head ...I made fajitas :) my own recipe

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really? so poor people are spending more on fast food ? I can eat for 3 months on 100-140 quid depending on what extra spices I need ... if you are poor why waste cash on fast food? 1 fast food meal can be the same as 3 days worth of food for me (dont get me wrong I eat lots of fast food because I can afford it, but when i used to be unable to it was foolish to buy it)

ever seen the dollar menu at mcdonalds? if i wanted to make the same burger at home the cost will be much much more. more financially stable people tend to buy fresh ingredients and make them at home.

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we eat zero fast food, cook all our meals ourselves, except special occasions like dates and birthdays, etc when we go out to real restaurants. I also vow my kids will not have fast food while they are in my sight or care - at least I and my wife will never give it to them.

I cannot believe that knowing how BAD it is for people... they flock to it and eat it anyways. The runs, stomach cramps, bloats and general bad feelings should be a freaking clue.

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really? so poor people are spending more on fast food ? I can eat for 3 months on 100-140 quid depending on what extra spices I need ... if you are poor why waste cash on fast food? 1 fast food meal can be the same as 3 days worth of food for me (dont get me wrong I eat lots of fast food because I can afford it, but when i used to be unable to it was foolish to buy it)

Corn, wheat and soy, all used a lot in fast food are subsidized by governments. They're as cheap as ... well subsidized crops. They're all used by fast food companies in most of their products as well. Fruits and vege growers don't enjoy the same subsidies, that is why they aren't anywhere near as cheap.

Many governments are bank rolling the food which is making everyone sick..which will come full circle and then put a huge strain on the health care system.

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really? so poor people are spending more on fast food ? I can eat for 3 months on 100-140 quid depending on what extra spices I need ... if you are poor why waste cash on fast food? 1 fast food meal can be the same as 3 days worth of food for me (dont get me wrong I eat lots of fast food because I can afford it, but when i used to be unable to it was foolish to buy it)

Here in the States, a lot of times fast food is cheaper than buying groceries. The general rule of thumb is, the healthier it is, the more expensive it is. Hence the reason that there are a lot more overweight poor people than overweight rich people. Rich people can afford things like fresh vegetables.

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Here in the States, a lot of times fast food is cheaper than buying groceries. The general rule of thumb is, the healthier it is, the more expensive it is. Hence the reason that there are a lot more overweight poor people than overweight rich people. Rich people can afford things like fresh vegetables.

Pretty much accurate: lower socio-economic background = higher rates of preventable illness disease.

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