Graphic reveals the junk food causing America’s obesity epidemic
America’s obsession with pizza could be causing an obesity epidemic, according to a report.
Medical experts from the online drug marketplace Universal Drugstore analyzed Google search and survey data to determine the most popular junk foods that Americans like to eat, adding up the average amount of calories, fat and sugars for each to determine which were the most unhealthy.
Pizza was considered the most popular, with an average of more than 6 million searches per month. However, it is packed with 1,200 calories – half the recommended daily allowance – and 55 grams of fat – more than the daily recommended allowance.
Chile came in second in popularity with 2.7 million searches, most of which came from southern states like Louisiana, Mississippi and Oklahoma, which also have recorded the highest rates of obesity in the country.
The cold-weather main dish contained fewer calories than pizza, but more than a third of the daily recommended amount of fat.
The findings come as America’s obesity epidemic is increasing, with 40 percent of American adults qualifying as obese and one in 10 having a BMI over 40, according to the CDC’s latest findings.
A new report ranked the most popular junk foods in America and added up their average calories, fat and sugar
According to research firm Universal Drugstore, pizza was considered the most popular junk food in America. However, it was also the least healthy food in the rankings
But despite the grim statistics, the US is far from the fattest country, with smaller countries like Tonga and Samoa topping the world rankings.
In the study, tacos and steak ranked third and fourth, with 1.8 million and 550,000 searches respectively. Hamburgers, hot dogs and fried chicken all ranked fifth, ranging from 150 to 500 calories per serving.
The increase in obesity could be caused in part by an abundance of cheap, high-calorie foods such as those commonly sought after, but also by large portion sizes.
Dr. Jamie Winn, pharmacist at Universal Drugstore, said: ‘We are fortunate to have so many delicious food options, from all different cultures, at our fingertips. However, the endless options can lead to overconsumption.
‘Overconsumption, especially of high-calorie, low-nutrient foods, is a primary cause of obesity, which occurs when more calories are consumed than expended.
‘This can be further exacerbated by excessive food intake and limited physical activity, which is a significant public health problem due to the link between obesity and numerous chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart disease and several forms of cancer.’
The team analyzed a survey from market research firm YouGov that asked Americans about their favorite foods in 2024.
Using that list, Universal Drugstore evaluated the average number of annual searches through Google Ads Keyword Planner to compile a list of the most popular dishes in the US.
From there, the researchers used the USDA’s FoodData Central database to determine the average calories, fat and sugars in each dish.
They also evaluated the states where the selected foods were most popular.
Although pizza was the most popular food, it was also the least healthy. According to the findings, the average frozen cheese pizza contains 1,210 calories, more than half the USDA’s recommended daily limit of 2,000.
However, that’s the total for an entire pizza, which is usually split between at least two people. One serving is only about two slices. Since most pizzas contain about eight to 10 slices, each slice would contain about 120 to 150 calories.
Although it was the least healthy choice, pizza reigned supreme in 37 states, including those with major hotspots like New York City and Chicago, as well as states in the Midwest with an average obesity rate between 30 and 40 percent.
The researchers found that pizza was the most popular junk food in 34 states, with chili coming close in the southern US
Pizza also contains 55 grams of fat. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend getting no more than 20 to 35 percent of your daily calories from fat.
For example, if you stick to a 2,000 calorie diet, that works out to about 20 to 30 grams per day.
However, the researchers did not specify how much of that fat is saturated, which comes from foods such as butter, cheese and cream and has been linked to high cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease.
Pizza also contained the most sugar, at 16 grams per pie. This is about the same as five Chips Ahoy! cookies or one and a half Krispy Kreme classic glazed donuts.
The American Heart Association recommends no more than 24 grams of added sugar for women and 36 grams for men.
Chile took second place, generating approximately 2.7 million monthly searches. One bowl contains 286 calories.
That’s about the same as two slices of pizza, which would contain 240 to 300 calories. Chili also contains four grams of sugars and 18 grams of fat per serving.
In addition, the dish can quickly become less healthy if it is topped with sour cream, cheese or crackers.
With 1.8 million monthly searches, tacos were the third most popular food on the list. These contain 615 calories per serving, along with 18 grams of fat and only four grams of sugar
Steak, hamburgers and hot dogs rounded out the top five, ranging from 148 to 418 calories.
This was followed by fried chicken and burritos, which ranged from 332 to 467 calories.
And in last place were pad Thai and Philly cheesesteaks, which contained 320 and 549 calories per serving, respectively.
The researchers used the findings to urge Americans to eat these foods only in moderation to combat obesity and avoid excess calories, fat and sugars.
Dr. Winn said: ‘A balanced diet is crucial for reducing the risks associated with obesity and overconsumption. It’s about eating a variety of foods in the right proportions so that people get enough of the nutrients needed for good health.’
