
List of America's most unhealthy fast food items is out, and you might want to ditch that cheeseburger and fries
fast food
chain. But, on a scale of 1 to 50, how unhealthy do you think that juicy (and greasy) burger is? No, it's not 8, and certainly not 49, it's beyond that. As US President Donald Trump and the HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are working on 'Making America Healthy Again', the list of 'The most unhealthy menu items at America's fast-food chains' is out, and it's shocking, to say the least.
A new study conducted by online healthcare platform PlushCare in 2024 has made the list of the most unhealthy fast food items in America, based on Department of Health's nutrient profiling method, comparing the calories (kj), sugar (g), saturated fat (g), and sodium (mg) values of products at 24 leading US fast-food chains.
And guess what's in the top one position as the most unhealthy food? It's not what you expect.
Cheeseburger! Yeah, that's right. This might finally be the right time to quit eating cheeseburgers from fast food chains.
Five Guys cheeseburger
tops the list by being the unhealthiest cheeseburger, with a 50-point unhealthiness score. The least healthy on the chain's menu is fries, which are too at 28 points. 'According to our calculations, the Five Guys cheeseburger is the most unhealthy in its class, primarily because it has 73% more saturated fat than any other fast-food cheeseburger,' the study said.
(Pic courtesy: PlushCare)
Many Americans believe that burgers are healthy. It can be, if cooked traditionally, with slow-cooked lean meat, and a healthy bun. It can provide protein, iron, and vitamin B12. However, that's not what you get from fast food chains. The World Health Organization (WHO) has found that red meat and ultra-processed foods are carcinogenic, which is basically what you're getting with a fast-food cheeseburger.
Interestingly, Burger King and McDonald's
cheeseburgers
are tied on relatively low unhealthiness scores (18 points). Compared to Five Guys, they each have less than a quarter of the saturated fat and less than half that of a Wendy's cheeseburger. Saturated fats are linked with increased risk of heart disease and obesity.
Well, that doesn't mean Burger King or McDonald's are any better. McDonald's McChicken is still on the list, but is the least unhealthy fast-food chicken
burger
. "While the McChicken is significantly less unhealthy than other fast-food chicken burgers, it is still high in sodium, fat, and calories. Because it is made of ground chicken patty, the nutrients it does contain are not high-quality," the study said.
Popeye's chicken nuggets are at the top of the least healthy (30 points) chicken nuggets.
(Pic courtesy: PlushCare)
When it comes to fries, Five Guys Regular Five Guys style fries are in the top spot, being the unhelathiest fries with a score of 28. KFC's secret recipe fries have 17 points on the unhealthiest score. Burger King and McDonald's fries are also on the list.
(Pic courtesy: PlushCare)
Next in the list is for most unhealthy Vanilla Shakes. Fatburger's vanilla shake is the least healthy, with 63 points and 890 calories. Five Guys, DQ, Steak 'n Shake, Burger King, Smash Burger, and McDonald's are on the list.
(Pic courtesy: PlushCare)
Trump Demands This From China Amid Tariff War... | 'U.S. No Longer Lose On Trade'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Investigate the health' of Donald Trump, ex-navy veteran urges Congress not to ignore POTUS' red flags
Donald Trump is facing new pressure for a full mental health check after a series of strange public appearances left even some of his supporters confused, according to Mirror report. Dr. Bandy Lee, a former Yale psychiatry professor, said she first saw signs of cognitive decline in Donald Trump back in 2017.(REUTERS) At the same time, some Republicans are still going after the former President Biden's health records from when he was in office. But one retired Navy commander says they're going after the wrong person. Paul Mazich: 'Investigate the health of our current president' Paul Mazich, a former Navy commander, called out Congress for focusing on Biden instead of Trump. He wrote in a column, 'Does it really matter whether Congress investigates former President Joe Biden's health in office? He's retired. Leave him alone. Here's a better idea: Investigate the health of our current president.' Trump, who returned to the presidency earlier this year, has made headlines with some odd speeches. In one, he claimed his late uncle taught the Unabomber, even though the dates don't sit align. That comment is just one of several that experts have called out as troubling. Mazich said, 'Clues to Trump's mental state have been plainly observable for many years. During his first term, dozens of psychiatrists and mental health professionals tried to warn the public.' Also Read: 'Trump: Convicted Felon' headline goes viral | A look at his indictments Trump suffers from a health issue He urged Congress to act quickly, 'If they determine that Trump suffers from a health issue that makes him unfit for office, they must act for the nation's good and not for political advantage." Trump has waved off concerns, saying he 'aced' a memory test and 'got every answer right.' Dr. Bandy Lee, a former Yale psychiatry professor, said she first saw signs of cognitive decline in Trump back in 2017. She now heads the World Mental Health Coalition. Also Read: In US, Pakistan's foreign minister backs Donald Trump's 'ceasefire' claim as he meets Marco Rubio 'Trump's bizarre speech and political decisions…' Last year, that group released a warning signed by more than 50 top psychiatrists, neurologists, and dementia experts. It said, 'What's alarming is how the rate of Trump's bizarre speech and political decisions have been increasing. He gave an answer about childcare to the Economic Club of New York so incoherent that even his supporters were concerned.' The group also pointed to signs like how Trump walks, problems speaking clearly, and dropping vocabulary and thought complexity, all common symptoms of dementia.


Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Centene raises Wall Street optimism that Medicaid insurers can improve profits
New York: Wall Street regained confidence in Medicaid insurers after Centene said on Friday it expects to be able to raise rates charged to states for 2026 health plans for low-income Americans and strengthen profit margins . Insurer shares rose across the board. Centene shares were up 5% in early afternoon trading after falling 16% on the company's announcement of a second-quarter loss and forecast cut. Rivals UnitedHealth, CVS Health and Humana rose 1.61%, 2.69% and 3.45%, respectively. All three report earnings next week. Centene in an earnings call reassured investors it would work with states to ensure their payments for Medicaid plans match the company's increased medical costs for 2026. "Our goal is to reprice 100%" of plans, said company CEO Sarah London. Insurers are paid a set amount by states for Medicaid plans, which are jointly funded with the federal government. Centene, UnitedHealth and Elevance have said this year that state reimbursements for these plans have lagged behind actual costs of care. Cautious investors have been looking for Medicaid health plan design changes and strategic geographic changes by the companies to reduce use of healthcare services . New work requirements for Medicaid recipients in President Donald Trump's signature tax-cut and spending bill have made some investors worry that healthy people could disenroll in coming years. The bill requires states to verify certain members are working or volunteering a minimum of 80 hours per month to qualify for Medicaid coverage starting in 2027. After a COVID-19 era requirement to keep people enrolled expired in 2023, Medicaid plans redetermined each person's eligibility. This pushed members off, changing the mix of sick and healthy participants, and some Medicaid insurers struggled. "The Medicaid redeterminations have proven to be far more disruptive than anyone thought," said Jeff Jonas, a portfolio manager at Gabelli Funds. "The entire industry is focused on restoring margin over winning new contracts and membership." More detailed data could justify midyear price increases, said Kevin Gade, chief operating officer at Bahl & Gaynor, and correct mismatched rates set by states after the pandemic. More data over the next year will also enable insurers to improve cost management techniques and raise rates paid by states, Gade said. "With enough data you can take care of the problem."


Business Standard
7 hours ago
- Business Standard
After Venus Williams' remark, a look at athletes' health insurance
Venus Williams' recent singles win at the DC Open showcased her longevity and brought attention to health coverage for aging athletes following a joking comment she made in an on-court interview. "I had to come back for the insurance," the five-time Wimbledon champion said after Tuesday's match, her first in 16 months. "They informed me this year that I'm on COBRA, so it's like, I got to get my benefits on." The 45-year-old Williams, who has won seven major singles titles in her career, became the second-oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match in professional tennis with Tuesday's victory. After losing on Thursday, she acknowledged that her comment on health insurance was a "fun and funny moment." The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, more commonly referred to as COBRA, allows Americans to stay on their employer's insurance plan for a limited amount of time after leaving their job. It comes with high costs. Williams' comment led to questions about health insurance in the sports world. For most active professional athletes, partially or fully subsidised health insurance is provided by their league or governing body and guaranteed in their collective bargaining agreement. A CBA is an agreement reached between a league and its players that guarantees certain levels of player compensation and benefits, and can be renegotiated every few years. So when athletes are playing, they're usually covered. But Williams, coming back to the sport after a 16-month hiatus, brought to light how long that insurance lasts or doesn't last for athletes when they're not playing. Women's Tennis In the WTA, the governing body of the women's tour, players are eligible to enroll in the health insurance plan if they are ranked in the top 500 in singles or top 175 in doubles and have played a minimum of three WTA 250 level or above tournaments that year. If players are in the top 150 in singles or top 50 in doubles, the WTA will pay a portion of the premiums. If a player is no longer eligible under those requirements, they can enrol in COBRA for up to 18 months, which is likely the situation that Williams was referencing. That is also the WTA's only option for retiring players. "Nobody wants to be on COBRA, right? Williams said after her second-round loss on Thursday night. That remains an issue in my life Obviously (the interview was) a fun and funny moment, but it's an issue that people are dealing with, so it is serious." Men's Tennis The ATP provides health insurance to men's tennis players who rank in the top 250 in singles or top 50 in doubles. All other players with a ranking point are given the opportunity to purchase health insurance through the ATP's provider. For retired players, the only option is COBRA for up to three years. Golf As an individual sport without a CBA, golf tours vary. They do have a group insurance plan that is available to active members of the PGA Tour, the PGA Tour Champions (the tour for golfers over 50) and the Korn Ferry Tour (the feeder circuit for the PGA). For players who meet certain "performance criteria," including how many tournaments they played and how often they won, the PGA will partially subsidise the plan. In retirement, players are responsible for their own insurance. Some players join the PGA Tour Champions after the PGA Tour and play into their mid-60s, during which they maintain coverage. Top players can receive a subsidy from the PGA in retirement. The LPGA Tour, the women's professional golf tour, started offering its players fully funded health insurance for the first time this year. Before this year, players were given a $4,000 stipend. NBA NBA players have access to one of the most inclusive insurance plans in retirement. If they played at least three years in the league, retired NBA players are eligible for fully-funded health insurance in retirement, and if they played at least 10 years, they will have healthcare covered for their entire family. WNBA WNBA players are fighting for retirement healthcare as part of their new CBA, which they are currently negotiating with the league. Those negotiations have been heated, and the most recent meeting between the two sides last weekend did not result in an agreement. One unique facet of the W's healthcare is that athletes who have spent more than eight years in the league can be reimbursed up to USD 20,000 a year for costs related to adoption, surrogacy, egg freezing or additional fertility treatments. NFL The NFL has less long-term coverage for retirees than most other team sport leagues athletes who played in the league for at least three years can remain on the NFL health insurance plan, but only for five years into retirement. NHL NHL players who have played more than 160 games with the league, which is about two seasons, are eligible to buy NHL health insurance for their retirement. The retirement insurance plan is eligible for partial subsidization from the league. MLB Baseball players who spent at least four years in the league have the option to pay premiums to stay on the MLB's healthcare plan indefinitely. Minor League Baseball has its own separate CBA, which also guarantees health insurance for active players. In the minors, however, players who get cut or leave the league lose coverage at the end of that month.