Top 15 Unhealthiest Fast Food Chains in 2024
Wondering which are the unhealthiest fast food chains? Fast food is convenient, cheap and a good option if you're in need of something quick (the clue’s in the name, after all). But, and it’s no secret, fast food is not widely considered to be healthy due to the high fat, salt and calorie content that a lot of our favorite fast foods contain.
It is possible to make healthier fast food choices, but it’s undeniable that there are some fast food chains that have more of a focus on quick and good value food rather than good nutrition. Whether you’re wondering which menu items to avoid or you just want a clearer picture of how good (or not so good) the unhealthiest fast food chains really are for you, then this guide can help. Our list of the unhealthiest fast food chains shows you the places that should be an occasional treat and the least nutritious menu items at each one.
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The 15 Unhealthiest Fast Food Restaurants
1. Burger King
Like its closest rival, McDonald's, Burger King is known for burgers and fries. In fact, the famous Whopper was invented in the 1970s as direct competition to the golden arches. While the burgers may still be good value, they’re also high in fat and sodium, pushing Burger King to the top of our rundown of the unhealthiest fast food chains. The large portions also make it difficult to monitor how much you’re eating.
The burgers each contain an average of around 700 calories although some are much higher. For example, the Triple Whopper with bacon and cheese clocks in at 1349 calories plus 94g of fat, of which 33g is saturated fat, and 1990 mg of sodium. Watch out for the sides and desserts too — the chocolate Oreo shake contains 670 calories and a whopping 91g of sugar.
2. Dairy Queen
A beloved purveyor of American fast food, Dairy Queen is also one of the unhealthiest fast food chains. Its signature treat is soft-serve (it’s not technically allowed to be called ice cream because it doesn’t contain the required amount of buttermilk), especially the Blizzards.
These super thick desserts come in mini, small, medium and large sizes. The large Peanut Butter Cookie Blizzard is the most calorific, at 1640 calories per serving, along with 80g fat and 151g sugar — that’s five times the recommended daily allowance for men and six times for women.
3. Taco Bell
Taco Bell might be considered a strange addition to our list of the unhealthiest food chains. After all, there are lots of low-calorie options and it also made an appearance on our guide to the healthiest fast food chains.
While there is a selection of lower-calorie delicacies on the menu, a lot of items are high in saturated fat and sodium. A good example is the breakfast Crunchwrap which comes loaded with eggs, hash browns and a sausage patty. At 750 calories, 49g of fat (17g saturated fat) and 1210 mg of sodium, it’s not the healthiest start to the day, especially if you get anything on the side.
4. Chick-fil-A
The chicken sandwich is famous but Chick-fil-A also offers a varied menu of other items. Unfortunately, many of them are very high in calories, fat and salt making this one of the unhealthiest fast food chains.
It’ll come as no surprise that fried chicken is not the healthiest option, least not at one of the unhealthiest fast food chains, but what is shocking is the nutritional makeup of the breakfast items. The hash brown scramble burrito with sausage contains 720 calories, 47g fat and 1450 mg sodium, making it a heavy way to start your day.
5. Jack in the Box
Similarly to McDonald’s and Sonic, Jack in the Box started as a drive-through (it was the first major chain to utilize an intercom system) and now has hundreds of locations across the US. Offering quick service and budget-friendly food, Jack in the Box is not the place to visit if you’re trying to count calories; in fact, it's one of the unhealthiest fast food chains.
Like many of the unhealthiest fast food chains on our list, the menu at Jack in the Box includes burgers, fries, salads and snacks, but the burgers are the main event, with the bacon double Smashed Jack — with 1070 calories, 78g fat (29g saturated fat) and 1900 mg sodium — that's perhaps the unhealthiest item on the menu.
6. KFC
KFC’s signature fried chicken is popular around the world but it’s also the reason this chain makes it onto our guide to the unhealthiest fast food chains. Not only is the fried chicken high in calories, but it’s also high in sodium and saturated fat.
However, in common with many of the unhealthiest fast food chains, it’s the burgers that really pack a calorie punch. The spicy Big Crunch chicken sandwich, for instance, has 710 calories, 40g of fat, eight grams of saturated fat and 1230 mg of sodium, half of your recommended allowance for a day.
7. Quiznos
The addition of Quiznos to our list of the unhealthiest fast food chains might come as a surprise. After all, these are sandwiches rather than burgers and use fresh ingredients.
However, many of the sandwiches at Quiznos come with high levels of sodium and lots of calories. The honey bacon sub is a good example; for a full-size sub, you’re looking at 1120 calories, 42g of fat and eight grams of sugar. Watch out for the sauces at the unhealthiest fast food chains too, even at Quiznos, as these can seriously rack up the calories and sugar.
8. Sonic
Sonic offers a nostalgic dining experience that recreates the golden age of drive-ins but it’s also one of the unhealthiest fast food chains. The burgers at Sonic contain an average of 1000 calories but it’s the Blast desserts that take the title of unhealthiest item. A large vanilla Blast with M&M's has a shocking 126g of sugar (five times the max daily recommendation), 38g of fat and close to 1000 calories.
9. McDonald’s
One of the most famous unhealthiest fast food chains in the world, there are a staggering 37000 McDonald's locations in 69 countries. Famous for its burger meals, a standard Big Mac burger combo with fries contains over 1400 calories and 55g fat. Ordering a McFlurry dessert could add 60g of sugar and another 500 calories to this total, definitely making McDonald’s one of the unhealthiest fast food chains.
10. Dunkin’ Donuts
If you’re looking for a quick caffeine hit, Dunkin’ might be your first stop. A cup of black coffee contains only five calories, so is a good choice for anyone looking for a pick-me-up, but the Dunkin’ collection of iced drinks needs a little more consideration.
A large serving of the signature frozen chocolate iced drink contains 890 calories, 18g of fat (including 13g of saturated fat) and 158g of sugar. That’s nearly half your daily calories and five times more than the maximum daily sugar just from a drink. No wonder Dunkin’ is considered one of the unhealthiest fast food chains.
11. Wendy’s
Wendy’s is a convenient pitstop for cheap fast food while you’re out and about but also a contender for one of the unhealthiest fast food chains. The famous breakfast Baconator burger is one of the most popular dishes but it clocks in at 48g of fat, 19g of which is saturated fat — nearly your whole recommended daily allowance. Add a chocolate Frosty on the side and you’re adding another 300 calories and 41g of sugar.
12. Arby’s
Arby’s is known for fresh meat sandwiches but might be less known for being one of the unhealthiest fast food chains. Although the meats are cooked fresh each day, the majority of its sandwiches contain an alarming amount of fat and calories.
The Arby’s Half Pound Beef ‘N Cheddar sandwich contains just over 700 calories, 37g of fat and nine grams of sugar. While this sandwich alone is high in calories, adding in a large portion of curly fries on the side adds another 550 calories, 29g of fat and 1000 mg of sodium.
13. Five Guys
Started in 1986 by five brothers, Five Guys is another burger joint that’s popular around the world. It uses freshly ground beef to make its burgers, but large portions and high sodium and fat levels make this one of the unhealthiest fast food chains.
One of the menu favorites, the bacon cheeseburger, contains 1060 calories, 62g of fat and 1310 mg of sodium. Grab a large portion of fries on the side and you’re adding a further 1030 calories and 41g of fat.
14. Whataburger
Established in Texas in 1950, there are now over 1000 Whataburger locations across the Southern US. Whataburger is famous for patties and buns but it’s the breakfast selection that pushes it onto our list of the unhealthiest fast food chains.
The Pancake Platter is made up of pancakes and a sausage patty with a drizzle of syrup and whipped butter. It may look like a fairly standard breakfast but it’s actually hiding over 1000 calories, 33g of fat and 50g+ of sugar depending on the amount of syrup you use.
15. Smashburger
Smashburger was founded in 2007, making it the newest addition to our list of the unhealthiest fast food chains. It's known for double patties, but the double-smoked bacon brisket burger really takes the brisket when it comes to unhealthy choices.
It’s made with two beef burger patties topped with bacon and beef brisket and, at 1270 calories, has around ten percent more calories than other Smashburgers. It also contains 23g of sugar, 82g of fat, four grams of saturated fat and 2760 mg of sodium.
What Is the Unhealthiest Fast Food Chain?
While no single one of these unhealthiest fast food chains could be described as the unhealthiest, it’s undeniable that fast food joints have a reputation for being less than healthy choices. There’s nothing wrong with a fast food treat sometimes, but it’s important to check out the nutritional information to see how it fits into your health goals.
If you are visiting one of the unhealthiest fast food chains mentioned in our list, look out for foods high in sodium as eating these has been linked to high blood pressure, high cholesterol and an increased risk of heart disease. It's important to check the fat content, especially saturated fat, when dining at any fast food restaurant.
Many of the offerings at the unhealthiest fast food chains are also high in calories. Calorie requirements vary according to age and physical activity but, on average, most people require around 2000 calories per day. Consistently eating too many calories can lead to weight gain and obesity, increasing your risk of conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.
Eating well is essential to staying healthy but the good news is that there are lots of ways to enjoy your favorite foods and make occasional visits to the unhealthiest fast food chains, without worrying about what you’re eating. Making simple changes, such as cutting out fries or switching to diet soda, is a good way to reduce calories and sugar but still indulge. Switching to a smaller size is a good option if you want a more calorie-friendly sweet treat, too.
For even more ways to explore your favorite foods, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.
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