Americans’ obsession with pizza may be driving the obesity epidemic, a report suggests.
Medical experts at online pharmaceutical marketplace Universal Drugstore analyzed Google search and survey data to identify the most popular junk foods Americans love, adding up the average calories, fat, and sugar content of each. to determine which are the least healthy.
Pizza was considered the most popular, with an average of over 6 million searches each month. However, it contains 1,200 calories, half the recommended daily amount, and 55 grams of fat, which is more than the daily recommended amount.
Chili came in second in popularity with 2.7 million searches, most of them from southern states like Louisiana, Mississippi and Oklahoma, which have some of the highest obesity rates in the country.
The cold-weather staple has fewer calories than pizza, but more than a third of the recommended daily fat allowance.
The findings come at a time when the obesity epidemic is skyrocketing in America, with 40% of U.S. adults qualifying as obese and 1 in 10 having a BMI greater than 40, according to the CDC’s latest findings. It was announced in
A new report ranks the most popular junk foods in America and totals their average calories, fat and sugar.
According to research firm Universal Drugstore, pizza is considered America’s most popular junk food. However, it was also ranked as the least healthy food.
But despite the grim statistics, the United States is far from the fattest nation, with smaller countries like Tonga and Samoa at the top of the world rankings.
Tacos and steak came in third and fourth place in the study with 1.8 million and 550,000 searches, respectively. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and fried chicken are all tied for fifth place and range from 150 to 500 calories per serving.
The rapid rise in obesity may be partially due to the abundance and quantity of inexpensive, calorie-dense foods that are commonly sought after.
“We’re lucky to have delicious food options from all different cultures at our fingertips,” said Dr. Jamie Wynn, pharmacist at Universal Drugstore. However, having endless options can lead to overconsumption.
“Overconsumption, especially of high-calorie, low-nutrient foods, is a major cause of obesity, where people consume more calories than they burn.
“This can be further exacerbated by excessive food intake and limited physical activity, and is a serious problem as obesity is associated with many chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart disease and various forms of cancer. It’s a public health concern.”
The research team analyzed a survey conducted by market research firm YouGov that asked Americans about their favorite foods in 2024.
Universal Drugstore used that list to evaluate average annual searches from Google Ads Keyword Planner to create a list of the most popular dishes in the United States.
From there, the researchers used the USDA’s FoodData Central database to determine the average calories, fat, and carbohydrates for each dish.
They also evaluated the states where the selected foods were most popular.
While pizza was the most popular food, it was also the least healthy. The study found that the average calorie content of a frozen cheese pizza is 1,210 calories, which is more than half of the USDA’s recommended daily limit of 2,000 calories.
However, this is the total for the entire pizza, which is usually split between at least two people. One serving is only about 2 slices. Considering that most pizzas are around 8-10 slices, each slice is approximately 120-150 calories.
Although pizza isn’t the healthiest, it topped the list in 37 states, including major hotspots like New York City and Chicago, as well as Midwestern states with average obesity rates of 30 to 40 percent.
Researchers found that pizza is the most popular junk food in 34 states, with chili close behind in the southern United States.
Pizza also contains 55 grams of fat. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that you get no more than 20 to 35 percent of your daily calories from fat.
For example, if you’re following a 2,000 calorie diet, you’ll be eating about 20 to 30 grams per day.
But researchers aren’t sure how much saturated fat is found in foods such as butter, cheese and cream, which have been linked to high cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease.
Pizza also had the highest amount of sugar, at 16 grams per slice. That’s about the same as 5 Chips Ahoy. One and a half cookies or 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 came in second place with approximately 2.7 million searches per month. One bowl contains 286 calories.
That’s about the same as two pizzas and between 240 and 300 calories. Chili also contains 4 grams of sugar and 18 grams of fat per serving.
Additionally, topping with sour cream, cheese, or crackers can quickly make the dish less healthy.
With 1.8 million monthly searches, tacos were the third most popular food on the list. These have 615 calories per serving, 18 grams of fat and only 4 grams of carbohydrates
Steaks, hamburgers, and hot dogs rounded out the top five, with calories ranging from 148 to 418.
Fried chicken and burritos followed, with calories ranging from 332 to 467.
In a tie for last place were Pad Thai Cheesesteak and Philadelphia Cheesesteak, with 320 calories and 549 calories per serving, respectively.
Researchers used the findings to urge Americans to eat these foods in moderation to combat obesity and avoid excess calories, fat, and sugar intake.
Dr. Wynn says, “A balanced diet is critical to reducing the risks associated with obesity and overconsumption.” This includes ensuring that you are getting your nutrients. ”
