Home > Healthy Eating > Archives > 2008 > January > 10 > Entry

Do restaurants make you fat?

Eating out is often blamed for adding to the nation’s obesity crisis. But, a new study done by

researchers at the University of Pennsylvania finds that- not suprisingly- it depends very much

on where you’re dining out and what you’re eating. And in fact, overall, as reported in

February’s American Journal of Preventive Medicine people who ate out most often actually had

the lowest body weights. However, once the restaurants are split into components: fast food

and full service, those who ate in fast food restaurants most often were the heaviest.

So, researchers conclude that eating in full service restaurant where you have a wider choice of

menu alternatives is important if you don’t want to any wider! What’s your opinion on dining out

and its association with weight control?

Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment |

Comments

By Mary

January 10, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this

You cannot put the blame on restaurants. They are a business and their goal is to make money.

You put the blame on the consumer, who chooses to dine at an establishment, and chooses their meals off the menu, then eats everything on their plate, and orders dessert.

By Mary

January 10, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this

You cannot put the blame on restaurants. They are a business and their goal is to make money.

You put the blame on the consumer, who chooses to dine at an establishment, and chooses their meals off the menu, then eats everything on their plate, and orders dessert.

By Producer

January 10, 2008 6:02 PM | Link to this

It’s not the restaurant’s fault, it’s not the cigarette company’s fault…it’s your own damn fault.

By FCM

January 15, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this

Yes and no. I agree nobody placed the order or put the food in my mouth but me. However some places (Chinese and Mexican food in particular) have changed their receipes to accomodate the American palate. I went to my local Chinese place as a ‘treat’ complete with my points in tact (35 weekly & more than half of my day allotment too and it was Saturday night—I way in on Mondays). Anyway when I worked out the how much of my meal I could actually eat it was much less than I thought….Plus I had not ordered but the one favorite, as opposed to the 2-3 dishes I usually got. I got online did research, the amount of sugar and other ingredients increases dramatically when you go out to eat.

Yes you can go out to eat. Yes you can eat sensibly. However, you really have to know the place…and 90% of the menu at some well known places are ‘off limits’ if your trying to eat healthy. I have done the online research on these menus….and I am not talking about eating potato skins here…even salads can be hefty.

I remember when I worked for a well known full service chain. Thai Salad with peanut dressing was all the rage…another big order was the Spinach salad with the Hot Bacon Dressing….the dressing alone was a full day’s caloric intake for a full grown female of about 20 (I am not kidding here—I wish I were). Then you had to add in for the salad ect.

Nothing beats eating good fresh food (or fresh frozen veggies in a pinch)at home. Then you control what goes in the pot…My chicken parm tastes great and has half the points value of the same thing at Mac Grill.

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