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Miami Herald
14-05-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
The best burger in America, according to a health expert
May is National Burger Month and Hims is helping you celebrate with a roundup of the healthiest fast food burgers in the country. It's also that time of year when many people are working toward various health goals, whether that's getting ready for a summer beach vacation or working on improving overall health and nutrition, so we decided to rank the nation's most popular burgers based on how healthy they are. While burgers may not come to mind when you think of healthy eating, if you need a quick meal on the go and are craving a burger, some options are definitely healthier than others, and you can still make it work to fit into your meal planning. What's healthiest for you may be slightly different depending on your health goals, but we partnered with a physician specializing in obesity medicine and SVP of Weight Loss at Hims, Dr. Craig Primack, to determine a methodology that includes a broad nutritional analysis. Here are the six label categories we looked at as part of the ranking process: Calories: Consuming excess calories has been linked to obesity and a number of related health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and even depression. Calories from a fast food burger can quickly add up, so it's important to pay attention to this metric. Protein: Protein is a foundational building block of good health. It increases satiety so you feel full longer while also promoting lean muscle mass and higher metabolism fat: There are many health risks associated with trans fat intake, including cardiovascular disease and fertility issues in both men and women. Saturated fat: Similarly, high saturated fat intake has also been found to contribute to things like cognitive decline and dementia and even lower sperm counts. Net carbs: Not all carbs are bad, but refined carbs (like white burger buns) don't offer the same nutritional value as whole grain carbs. Looking at net carbs accounts for fiber content as well, which can help prevent rapid blood sugar Consuming too much sugar can lead to a greater risk of health conditions, such as cardiometabolic disease and dental disease. And in men, it may even reduce semen quality. Hims looked at the five top burgers on the menus at the most burger chains in the U.S. That excludes some common options like a regular hamburger or cheeseburger from McDonald's, while still capturing most of their bestsellers like the Big Mac and Quarter Pounder with Cheese. Key Findings Shake Shack dominates with three out of the top four healthiest burgers. These burgers also had the least amount of net burgers with the most calories also tended to be the burgers with the most protein, which can complicate the health double and bacon burgers rank well thanks to higher protein and lower sugar and carb content. Top 10 Healthiest and Unhealthiest Fast Food Burgers It's here: the 10 best fast food burgers to help you be mindful of your health and weight loss diet goals while still treating yourself to your drive-thru favorites. 1. Freddy's Double Steakburger (Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers) 2. SmokeShack (Shake Shack) 3. Avocado Bacon Burger (Shake Shack) 4. ShackBurger (Shake Shack) 5. Double SONIC Smasher (SONIC Drive-In) 6. Freddy's Original Bacon and Cheese Double (Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers) 7. Double-Double (In-N-Out Burger) 8. ButterBurger (Culver's), McDouble (McDonald's), and Triple SONIC Smasher (SONIC Drive-In)-TIED Fast Food Burgers Ranked by Nutritional Value 1. Freddy's Double Steakburger (Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers) 2. SmokeShack (Shake Shack) 3. Avocado Bacon Burger (Shake Shack) 4. ShackBurger (Shake Shack) 5. Double SONIC Smasher (SONIC Drive-In) 6. Freddy's Original Bacon and Cheese Double (Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers) 7. Double-Double (In-N-Out Burger) 8. ButterBurger (Culver's), McDouble (McDonald's), and Triple SONIC Smasher (SONIC Drive-In)-TIED 11. Mushroom & Swiss (Culver's) 12. Hamburger (In-N-Out Burger) 13. ButterBurger Cheese (Culver's) 14. California Style Double (Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers) and Cheeseburger (In-N-Out Burger)-TIED 16. Double ShackBurger (Shake Shack) and Prime Rib Steak Burger (Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers)-TIED 18. Cheesy Bacon SuperSONIC Stack (SONIC Drive-In) 19. The Culver's Bacon Deluxe (Culver's) 20. Cheesy Bacon SONIC Stack (SONIC Drive-In) 21. The Culver's Deluxe (Culver's) 22. Big Mac (McDonald's) 23. Son of Baconator (Wendy's) 24. Original Cheeseburger Signature Stackburger (Dairy Queen) and Quarter Pounder with Cheese (McDonald's)-TIED 26. Bacon & Cheese Whataburger (Whataburger) and Dave's Single (Wendy's)-TIED 28. Shack Stack (Shake Shack) 29. Jalapeno & Cheese Whataburger (Whataburger) 30. Hardee's Frisco (Hardee's) 31. Whopper (Burger King) 32. Whataburger (Whataburger) 33. Grilled Cheese Steakburger Double Patty (Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers) 34. Double Whopper (Burger King) and FlameThrower Signature Stackburger (Dairy Queen)-TIED 36. Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburger (Jack in the Box) 37. Garlic Butter Bacon Cheeseburger (SONIC Drive-In) 38. Double Meat Whataburger (Whataburger) 39. Bacon Cheese Deluxe Signature Stackburger (Dairy Queen) 40. Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese (McDonald's) and Single Western Bacon Cheeseburger (Carl's Jr.)-TIED 42. Quarter Pounder with Cheese Deluxe (McDonald's) 43. Baconator (Wendy's) and Bacon Burger (Five Guys)-TIED 45. Hamburger (Five Guys) 46. Bacon Cheeseburger (Hardee's) and Dave's Double (Wendy's)-TIED 48. Steakhouse Bacon Whopper (Burger King) 49. California Classic Double Cheeseburger (Carl's Jr.) 50. Single Famous Star (Carl's Jr.) 51. Bacon Cheeseburger (Five Guys) 52. Triple Smoky BBQ Bacon Buford (Checkers and Rally's) 53. Two Cheese Deluxe Signature Stackburger (Dairy Queen) 54. Baconzilla! (Checkers and Rally's) 55. Bacon Double Smashed Jack (Jack in the Box) 56. Triple Whopper (Burger King) 57. Famous Star (Hardee's) 58. Dave's Triple (Wendy's) 59. Cheeseburger (Five Guys) 60. Double Hardee's Frisco (Hardee's) 61. Big Buford (Checkers and Rally's) 62. Smoky BBQ Bacon Buford (Checkers and Rally's) 63. Big Angus Famous Star (Carl's Jr.) and Triple Meat Whataburger (Whataburger) 65. Double Western Bacon Cheeseburger (Carl's Jr.) 66. Super Star (Hardee's) 67. Bacon King (Burger King) 68. Backyard Bacon Ranch Signature Stackburger (Dairy Queen) 69. Classic Smashed Jack (Jack in the Box) 70. Triple Big Buford (Checkers and Rally's) 71. Bacon & Swiss Buttery Smashed Jack (Jack in the Box) 72. Buttery Smashed Jack (Jack in the Box) Get the data Fast Food Burger Trends Revealed Stick to your personal goals by looking at the best and worst burgers in each nutrition category. Which Fast Food Burgers Have the Most Protein? Bigger burgers mean more protein, which can help meet your daily nutrition goals. Just keep an eye out for higher calorie counts. Fast Food Burgers With the Most Protein Bacon King (Burger King): 107.4 gramsTriple Whopper (Burger King): 72.5 gramsDave's Triple (Wendy's): 70 grams Fast Food Burgers With the Least Protein Hamburger (In-N-Out Burger): 16 gramsButterBurger (Culver's) and Cheeseburger (In-N-Out Burger): 20 grams McDouble (McDonald's): 22 grams Which Fast Food Burgers Have the Most Calories? The burgers with the most protein are also the highest in calories, another important metric to be mindful of. Fast Food Burgers With the Most Calories Bacon King (Burger King): 1710 caloriesTriple Whopper (Burger King): 1170 caloriesDave's Triple (Wendy's): 1160 calories Fast Food Burgers With the Least Calories Hamburger (In-N-Out Burger): 360 caloriesButterBurger (Culver's) and McDouble (McDonald's): 390 calories Cheeseburger (In-N-Out Burger): 430 calories Which Fast Food Burgers Have the Most Trans Fat? Some burgers have quite high trans fat content, but five options have none at all. Fast Food Burgers With the Most Trans Fat Bacon Double Smashed Jack (Jack In the Box) and Dave's Triple (Wendy's): 4.5 gramsBaconator (Wendy's), Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburger (Jack In the Box), Dave's Double (Wendy's), Double Hardee's Frisco (Hardee's), and Super Star (Hardee's): 3 gramsBacon King (Burger King): 2.8 grams Fast Food Burgers With No Trans Fat Cheeseburger (In-N-Out Burger), Cheesy Bacon SONIC Stack (SONIC Drive-In), Cheesy Bacon SuperSONIC Stack (SONIC Drive-In), Double-Double (In-N-Out Burger), Hamburger (In-N-Out Burger) Which Fast Food Burgers Have the Most Net Carbs? The amount of carbs in a burger bun can vary greatly. The BigMac, for instance, is famous for its third bun yet it doesn't appear in the top three list of burgers with the most net carbs. This metric also likely drove the Avocado Bacon Burger, ShackBurger, and SmokeShack burger to the top of our overall list of healthy options. Fast Food Burgers With the Most Net Carbs Double Western Bacon Cheeseburger (Carl's Jr.): 74 gramsSingle Western Bacon Cheeseburger (Carl's Jr.): 73 gramsSteakhouse Bacon Whopper (Burger King): 60 grams Fast Food Burgers With the Least Net Carbs Avocado Bacon Burger and ShackBurger (Shake Shack): 26 gramsDouble ShackBurger (Shake Shack): 27 gramsSmokeShack (Shake Shack): 28 grams Methodology: How Scores Were Calculated To determine the healthiest burgers in America, Hims evaluated menus from the country's top burger chains based on 2024 revenue. The fast food restaurants included in the analysis were McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, SONIC Drive-In, Jack in the Box, Whataburger, Culver's, Five Guys, Hardee's, Carl's Jr., In-N-Out Burger, Shake Shack, Checkers and Rally's, and Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers. Hims evaluated up to five burgers on each restaurant's permanent menu (as available) based on the following nutrition metrics: calories, protein, trans fat, saturated fat, net carbs, and sugar. We used a 2x multiplier for calories and trans fat and a 3x multiplier for protein. 3 Ways to Keep Your Burger Meal As Healthy As Possible Before you place your order, consider making a few alterations to maximize the nutritional content of your meal. Make your calories count. Not all calories are created equally, so if you're on a weight loss journey aim for your personal target calorie count by choosing more nutritious ingredients in your meal. For instance, a double burger, which has more protein content, would be a better choice than fries and a single burger. (Wondering how much protein you need? Check out this protein calculator.) Also watch for hidden ingredients lurking in burgers, such as higher sugar count and carbs in buns. For instance, some restaurants report adding high fructose corn syrup to buns for extra for a healthier side. Instead of making a meal with fries as your side, consider getting a salad or fruit slices instead. French fries are high in fat, oil, and salt, all of which decrease the overall nutritional profile of this fast food staple. Just be mindful of sneaky calories and sugar content in the salad a low-calorie drink. You can find a wide variety of drink options when you grab a burger at a fast food restaurant, but adding a high-sugar drink can add a lot of calories to your meal. Water is, of course, the healthiest option, but an unsweetened iced tea or the occasional diet soda are also better options. If you're craving a soda, sparkling water can also be a satisfying option. This story was produced by Hims and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. © Stacker Media, LLC.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New Yorkers say willpower is the biggest reason they can't lose weight—see what other cities think is their biggest barrier
This year many of us have promised to eat healthier, drink less, exercise more, and make 2025 our healthiest year ever (sound familiar?). A couple of months into the year, however, some of those resolutions may be starting to slip. The average American gives up on their New Year's resolutions—including weight loss goals—by January 19, meaning many of us have said sayonara to our healthy new habits already. According to research, 63% of Americans who have successfully lost weight in their lives report gaining it back within the year, and one in five (20%) report gaining it back in two months time. So what's holding us all back from achieving our goals? Is it psychological? Environmental? Inflation? Some combination of factors? Hers reports in a 2025 study how weight loss barriers differ across the U.S. Willpower is the number one reason Americans say they throw in the towel on weight loss goals, but according to the Hers study, it's less than half the story. Only 30% of Americans who have tried to lose weight at some point in their life say it's willpower that held them back, meaning that 70% name factors other than willpower that are working against them. Doctors agree: "This is not about willpower. Our bodies have a centuries-old biological drive to avoid weight loss. Maintaining reserves of body fat is an adaptation to help us survive through periods of food scarcity. But in the modern day, the tables are turned—we have to use modern medical advances to overcome these biological presets," says Craig Primack MD, FACP, FAAP, MFOMA, a physician specializing in obesity medicine and senior vice president of weight loss at Hers. Genetics, for example, is one of the biggest barriers to weight loss according to medical experts, yet Americans are half as likely to name their biological makeup as an obstacle to weight loss as they are to name their own resolve. Consider this: Only 14% of respondents say genetics is a barrier to their weight loss, yet it's estimated that 43% of the general population has a genetic predisposition to obesity. Having a genetic predisposition to obesity doesn't guarantee that a person will be overweight, but it can make it more difficult for them to lose weight. Science, however, is stepping in to break some biological barriers. Notably, weight loss medications have proven to be an effective path to weight loss for many. According to a 2024 study from Hims & Hers, The Shape of America, 61% of those who have tried GLP-1s have lost weight, and among those, 55% report having kept the weight among those who are trying to lose weight now, or have tried to lose weight in the past 30% Willpower 24% My general lifestyle 21% Lack of commitment 14% Affordability 14% Genetics 13% The people around me 13% Lack of support 12% My environment/where I live 10% None of the above—I tend to be successful in losing weight when I want to 8.5% Lack of access to health tools or medications 8% Cultural factors 2% Other 10% None of the above—I don't struggle to lose weight Whether it's willpower or biology that Americans feel is holding them back, what's clear is that weight loss is personal and different people—and populations—report facing different barriers to getting to their ideal weight. For example, New Yorkers are two times more likely than New Orleanians to name willpower as a reason why they can't lose weight (39.5% vs. 19%) and nearly three times more likely than their neighbors in Philadelphia to say that where they live is to blame (18.5% vs. 7%, respectively). Kansas City residents are seven times more likely than Omaha, NE, residents to say "lack of support" undermines their weight loss goals (23% vs. 3%). And residents of Albuquerque, NM, San Antonio, TX, and Austin, TX, reported that cultural factors were the culprit. Finally, smaller cities, like Greenville, SC, and Providence, RI, were more likely to say access to health resources was the issue. Albuquerque, NM, topped the list of cities reporting the most barriers to weight loss (a full 100% say they face one or more barriers) and Philadelphia, PA reported facing the least (80%). The challenges to losing weight varied greatly by region. Here are the cities that reported facing each weight loss barrier most. 90% of Americans struggle overall Albuquerque, NM: 100% San Francisco, CA: 99% Baltimore, MD: 96% Seattle, WA: 95% Orlando, FL: 95% 30% of Americans struggle overall Baltimore, MD: 40% New York, NY: 39.5% Sacramento, CA: 38% Pittsburgh, PA: 37.5% Phoenix, AZ: 37% 24% of Americans struggle overall Denver, CO: 39.5% Seattle, WA: 34% New Orleans, LA: 34% Austin, TX: 33% Los Angeles, CA: 32% 21% of Americans struggle overall Pittsburgh, PA: 31% Norfolk, VA: 30% New Orleans, LA: 29% Houston, TX: 27% Kansas City, KS: 27% 14% of Americans struggle overall Birmingham, AL: 26% Charlotte, NC: 23% Sacramento, CA: 22% Detroit, MI: 21% Albuquerque, NM: 21% 14% of Americans struggle overall Washington, D.C.: 24% Chicago, IL: 23% San Francisco, CA: 22% Norfolk, VA: 20% Milwaukee, WI: 20% 13% of Americans struggle overall Orlando, FL: 27% San Diego, CA: 23% St. Louis, MO: 21.5% Denver, CO: 20% Dallas, TX: 18% 13% of Americans struggle overall Albuquerque, NM: 26% Kansas City, KS: 23% Oklahoma, OK: 21% Norfolk, VA: 20% Salt Lake City, UT: 20% 12% of Americans struggle overall St. Louis, MO: 21.5% Albuquerque, NM: 21% Portland, OR: 19% New York, NY: 18.5% Minneapolis, MN: 17% 9% of Americans struggle overall Greenville, SC: 19% Providence, RI: 18% Honolulu, HI: 17% Salt Lake City, UT: 16% Omaha, NE: 15.5% 8% of Americans struggle overall San Antonio, TX: 16.5% Albuquerque, NM: 16% Austin, TX: 14% Washington, D.C.: 12% Cleveland, OH: 12% 90% of Americans struggle overall Philadelphia, PA: 80% Atlanta, GA: 81% Omaha, NE: 81% Des Moines, IA: 82% Portland, OR: 82% Get the data. No matter where you live, losing weight can be challenging. A good place to start is to set goals that are realistic and achievable to help you stay motivated. Remember that weight loss is not linear and requires a daily commitment to making healthier choices. And when lifestyle changes aren't enough, speak to a healthcare provider about whether options like weight loss medications may be a good fit for you. This study is based on a 7,100-person online survey, which included (1) 5,000 18-to-65-year-old respondents in the top 50 metropolitan areas (100 respondents per city); (2) 5,000 18-65-year-old respondents in each of the 50 states (100 respondents per state); and (3) a nationally representative sample of 500 18-to-65-year-old respondents to contextualize results. These three categories are not mutually exclusive; some respondents fall within more than one category. The study was fielded in January 2025. Findings were analyzed by 190 demographic and psychographic cuts, including city, region, gender (when we refer to "women" and "men," we include all people who self-identify as such), age, race and ethnicity, relationship status, parenting status, sexual orientation (heterosexual, bisexual, gay, lesbian, pansexual, asexual, queer, etc.), fandoms (music, sports, etc.), and fitness and diet preferences, among other areas of interest. Metropolitan populations were determined by 2022 U.S. Census data. In order to represent as many states as possible within the study, five cities that did not fall in the top 50 metropolitan locations were selected in place of cities in states already represented. Cities added to the study included New Orleans, LA (51); Providence, RI (53); Little Rock, AR (59); Honolulu, HI (68); and Omaha, NE (71). Cities replaced in the study included West Palm Beach, FL (39); Jacksonville, FL (41); Grand Rapids, MI (42); Harrisburg, PA (44); and Greensboro, NC (45). Results reflected above are among people who reported trying to lose weight now, or who have tried to lose weight in the past. Results reflect the percentage of people in each city who name each weight loss barrier as one they face. All data in this study are from this source, unless otherwise noted. Independent research firm, Culture Co-op, conducted and analyzed research and findings. This story was produced by Hers and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
