World Atlas ranked the 10 \u201cmost unhealthy\u201d fast-food chains in the U.S. based on meals that can reach or surpass a 2,000-calorie daily limit.Wendy\u2019s and Sonic topped the list because of their high-calorie menu combos \u2014 like the Triple Baconator meal with a Frosty totaling 2,160 calories.Chick-fil-A ranked tenth on the list, with concerns about the sodium content in its waffle fries and the nutritional impact of its fried chicken sandwich.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re not going to sugar-coat it \u2014 fast food isn\u2019t considered the most nutrient-dense. And as it turns out, some chains are evidently more indulgent than others.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
A new report by World Atlas<\/a> ranks the 10 unhealthiest restaurant chains in the United States, and the ranking is sadly filled with a few of our familiar favorites. Major chains, such as Sonic and Wendy\u2019s, didn\u2019t fare particularly well, perhaps due to their extensive sweet treat menu.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Of course, so-called \u201chealthy\u201d meals involve various aspects of life, and even foods that aren\u2019t particularly nutrient-rich can evoke nostalgia and comfort, foster connections among new friends, and celebrate special occasions. We\u2019re all for a holistic approach when considering what\u2019s on the table.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n That said, let\u2019s dig into the data.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Wendy\u2019s frozen desserts create a \u201ccaloric minefield\u201d for diners, at least in the authors\u2019 eyes. Adding a medium Frosty to a Triple Baconator meal totals a staggering 2,160 calories for a single dinner,\u00a0which the report cites as the main reason for this title. Sonic Drive-In, on the other hand, offers a Sonic Cheeseburger combo with tots and a large Cherry Limeade for a casual 1,600 calories.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n As for this study\u2019s methodology, the World Atlas research team analyzed fast-food chains that offer single meals totaling a 2,000-calorie diet. The report also takes into account additional pressures, such as limited-time promotions and marketing tactics, that might sway consumers to choose less nutritious options.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n On the healthier end of the spectrum, Chick-fil-A secured the No. 10 spot among all chains. However, World Atlas\u2019 researchers remain cautious about the Southern chain\u2019s signature fried chicken sandwich and the sky-high sodium levels in its waffle fries. Cheap eats favorite Little Caesars also didn\u2019t impress researchers, who claim the $5 pepperoni pizza packs 2,140 calories in a single sitting.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t the first time researchers have attempted to rank fast food options. At the tailend of last summer, primary care platform PlushCare<\/a> looked into<\/a> the healthiest and unhealthiest burger spots across the United States. Five Guys, a national chain known for its endless customization options, was named the \u201cunhealthiest\u201d bite.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Ultimately, health is personal \u2014 and sometimes, indulgence is part of the balance.<\/p>\n The 10 least healthy fast food chains in America<\/p>\n RANK\u00a0 1\u00a0 2\u00a0 3\u00a0 4\u00a0 5\u00a0 6\u00a0 7\u00a0 8\u00a0 9\u00a0 10\u00a0
\nFAST FOOD CHAIN\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nWendy\u2019s\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nSonic Drive-In\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nTaco Bell\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nDairy Queen\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nKFC\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nQuiznos\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nMcDonald\u2019s\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nSmashburger\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nLittle Caesars\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nChick-fil-A\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"World Atlas ranked the 10 \u201cmost unhealthy\u201d fast-food chains in the U.S. based on meals that can reach…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":14106,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[61],"tags":[97,269],"class_list":["post-14105","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nutrition","tag-health","tag-nutrition"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14105","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14105"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14105\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14106"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14105"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14105"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14105"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}