America’s Most Unhealthy Fast Food? It’s Now at 54 MN Locations
It’s the fast food chain serving up the most jaw-dropping calorie bombs in the entire country—and you'll find it all over Minnesota.
That's right, a new study just crowned this fast food chain the unhealthiest in the U.S., and you’ll find 54 of its locations right here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. That's the word from the number crunchers over at World Atlas, who just looked at all the major fast food chains in the U.S. to determine which one's food is most unhealthy.
According to their study, World Atlas 'reviewed nutrition data, menu gimmicks and marketing tactics at major chains. We found ten restaurant chains that routinely serve meals that can eclipse daily calorie limits in a single sitting while encouraging visits through bargain pricing and around-the-clock service,' the study said.
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Keep in mind, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the recommended caloric intake for men and women for the ENTIRE DAY constitutes less than half of the amount of calories in one meal from the most unhealthy fast food chain! The NIH says:
A woman should eat 2000 calories per day to maintain her weight, and should limit her caloric intake to 1500 or less to lose one pound per week. For the average male to maintain his body weight, he should eat 2500 calories per day, or 2000 a day if he wants to lose one pound per week.
So, which chain is the most unhealthy in the U.S. in 2025? That honor goes to Wendy's, the fast food chain that first opened over 55 years ago in Columbus, Ohio. Founder Dave Thomas, who named the chain after his daughter, quickly found success, Wendy's website says, with its square beef patties and Frosty® desserts.
Just how unhealthy is Wendy's? World Atlas notes that Wendy's 'Triple Baconator' meal with large fries and medium Frosty contains just under 2,200 calories, including 54 grams of saturated fat and 3,400 milligrams of sodium-- which is over the entire day's caloric intake for many Minnesotans!
Wendy's currently operates 54 different restaurants throughout the North Star State, including five locations each in Minneapolis and St. Paul, plus two locations in Blaine, Bloomington, Eagan, Plymouth, and Rochester.
Here's the entire list of the 10 Most Unhealthy Fast Food Restaurants in the U.S.
- 10) Chick-fil-A
- 9) Little Caesars
- 8) Smashburger
- 7) McDonald's
- 6) Quiznos
- 5) KFC
- 4) Dairy Queen
- 3) Taco Bell
- 2) Sonic
- 1) Wendy's
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Gallery Credit: Charlotte Barnett
