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A Third of Americans Eat Fast Food Every Single Day

A Third of Americans Eat Fast Food Every Single Day

We’re really not surprised here. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a new study this week, claiming that 1 in 3 U.S. adults (about 85 million people) eat fast food every day.

But you still have time to get on the right track. The survey, compiled by the National Center for Health Statistics, showed that fast food consumption does decrease as you get older. Forty-five percent of adults ages 20 to 39 ate fast food daily. But only 24 percent of adults over 60 had fast food as an occasional meal.

Cheryl Fryar, health statistician at the CDC, shared that fast food has been essential for the American diet in recent decades. “Fast food has been associated with poor diet and increased risk of obesity,” she said.

Some researchers have argued that more young people consuming fast food daily probably has something to do with the fact that it’s quick and easy, especially when you’re eating for just one person rather than feeding a family.

Income also had something to do with it. Higher income adults consumed more fast food than those at lower incomes.

And while a lot of us might just be frequenting the Chick-fil-A drive thru a little too often strictly for waffle fries (no one is judging you), plenty of fast food restaurants have gained some good repertoire for offering healthier alternatives on their menu.

Even McDonald’s recently announced plans to offer healthier options, especially for their Happy Meals, by reducing portions and cutting back on the amounts of fat and salt.

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