Graphic reveals the junk foods driving America's obesity epidemic

America's obsession with pizza could beryllium fueling an epidemic of obesity, a study suggests.

Medical experts astatine online cause marketplace Universal Drugstore analyzed Google search and survey information to find the astir fashionable junk foods Americans similar to gorge on, totaling mean calories, fat, and sugars for each to find which ones were the unhealthiest. 

Pizza was deemed the astir popular, averaging much than 6million searches each month. However, it's loaded with 1,200 calories - fractional the recommended regular magnitude - and 55 grams of abdominous - much than the regular recommended amount.

Chili came successful 2nd spot successful presumption of popularity with 2.7million searches, astir of which came from confederate states similar Louisiana, Mississippi and Oklahoma, which besides person recorded the highest rates of obesity successful the country.

The acold upwind staple had less calories than pizza but much than one-third of the regular recommended abdominous allowance. 

The findings travel arsenic America's obesity epidemic surges, with 40 percent of US adults qualifying arsenic obese and 1 successful 10 having a BMI implicit 40, according to the CDC's latest findings. 

But contempt the grim statistics, the US is acold from the fattest country, with smaller nations similar Tonga and Samoa topping satellite rankings. 

In the survey, tacos and steak took 3rd and 4th place, with 1.8million and 550,000 searches each, respectively. Hamburgers, blistery dogs, and fried chickenhearted each tied for 5th place, ranging from 150 to 500 calories per serving. 

The surge successful obesity could beryllium driven successful portion by an abundance of cheap, calorific foods similar the ones commonly sought after, arsenic good arsenic ample information sizes.  

Dr Jamie Winn, a pharmacist astatine Universal Drugstore, said: 'We are fortunate to person truthful galore delicious nutrient options that deduce from each antithetic cultures close astatine our fingertips. However, endless options tin pb to overconsumption. 

'Overconsumption, particularly of high-calorie, low-nutrient foods, is simply a superior origin of obesity, which occurs erstwhile much calories are consumed than expended.

'This tin beryllium made worse by excessive nutrient intake and constricted carnal activity, which is simply a important nationalist wellness interest owed to obesity’s links to galore chronic diseases, including diabetes, bosom disease, and assorted forms of cancer.'

The squad analyzed a survey from marketplace probe steadfast YouGov asking Americans successful 2024 astir their favourite foods. 

Using that list, Universal Drugstore evaluated the mean fig of yearly searches from Google Ads Keyword Planner to make its database of the astir fashionable dishes successful the US. 

From there, the researchers utilized the USDA's FoodData Central database to find the mean calories, fat, and sugars successful each dish. 

They besides evaluated the states wherever the selected foods were the astir popular. 

While pizza was the astir fashionable food, it was besides the slightest healthy. According to the findings, the mean frozen food pizza is 1,210 calories, much than fractional of the USDA's recommended regular bounds of 2,000. 

However, that's the full for an full pizza, which is usually divided betwixt astatine slightest 2 people. One serving is lone astir 2 slices. Given that astir pizzas person astir 8 to 10 slices, each portion would beryllium astir 120 to 150 calories. 

Though the slightest steadfast pick, pizza reigned ultimate successful 37 states, including those with large hotspots similar New York City and Chicago, arsenic good arsenic Midwestern states that person mean obesity rates betwixt 30 and 40 percent. 

Pizza besides contains 55 grams of fat. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans urge getting nary much than 20 to 35 percent of your regular calories from fat. 

If you're sticking to a 2,000-calorie diet, for example, that adds up to astir 20 to 30 grams per day.

The researchers did not specify however overmuch of that abdominous is saturated, however, which comes from foods similar butter, cheese, pick and has been linked to precocious cholesterol, diabetes, and bosom disease. 

Pizza besides contained the astir sugar, with 16 grams per pie. This is astir the aforesaid arsenic 5 Chips Ahoy! cookies oregon 1 and a fractional Krispy Kreme classical glazed donuts. 

The American Heart Association recommends nary much than 24 grams of added sweetener for women and 36 grams for men. 

Chili took 2nd place, garnering astir 2.7million monthly searches. One vessel contains 286 calories. 

That is astir the aforesaid arsenic 2 slices of pizza, which would tally 240 to 300 calories. Chili besides contains 4 grams of sugars and 18 grams of abdominous per serving. 

Additionally, the crockery tin rapidly go little steadfast erstwhile it gets topped with sour cream, food oregon crackers.  

With 1.8million monthly searches, tacos were the third-most fashionable nutrient connected the list. These had 615 calories per serving, on with 18 grams of abdominous and conscionable 4 grams of sugars

Steak, hamburgers, and blistery dogs rounded retired the apical five, ranging from 148 to 418 calories. 

This was followed by fried chickenhearted and burritos, which ranged from 332 to 467 calories.

And tied for past spot were pad Thai and Philly cheesesteaks, which had 320 and 549 calories per serving, respectively. 

The researchers utilized the findings to impulse Americans to lone devour these foods successful moderation to combat obesity and debar excess calories, fat, and sugars.

Dr Winn said: 'A balanced fare is important successful reducing the risks associated with obesity and overconsumption. It involves eating a assortment of foods successful the close proportions, ensuring that individuals get capable nutrients indispensable for bully health.'