Fast Food – A Real Addiction?

While jury is still out on the existence of a real addiction to fast food, some scientists suggest that the high fat, salt and sugar content of fast food may increase the addictive potential (1).

And fast food tastes good, which makes people want it even more.

Conquer Your Fast Food Addiction

If you find yourself pulling up to the take out window at a fast food restaurant more often than you’d like, here are some tips to help control your fast food addiction.

1. Keep healthy non-perishable snacks on hand all the time so when you are hungry, you don’t need to resort to fast food. Good options include 100-calorie pack unsalted almonds, protein bars, or fresh fruit.
2. Limit fast food to emergencies, when you are out on a road trip, for example, and need to stop for something quick to eat.
3. If you must eat fast foods, eat healthier options. Choose salads with light dressings, grilled chicken sandwiches on whole wheat bread, open faced sandwiches, chili, and unsweetened beverages. Skip the fries and avoid super-sized portions.
4. Feel comfortable making special requests. Ask for light dressings on the side, whole wheat bun, grilled not fried, extra vegetables on sandwiches, hold the cheese and sauce.
5. Know what you’re eating. Read up on the nutritional value of the fast food you enjoy- once you see the caloric content you may think twice before indulging.

Lose Weight at Penn Medicine

Learn about medical weight loss in Philadelphia, and the Penn Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Program at a free information session about weight-loss surgery in Philadelphia.

There, you will hear about your weight-loss surgery options, and how Penn can help you lose weight and get healthy for good.

Register for a free information session today.

(1)Is Fast Food Addictive?; Garber AK, Lustig RH. Curr Drug Abuse Rev. 2011 Sep;4(3):146-62.