Eat Home-Cooked Food for A Slim Waistline: Study

Eating out can make you fatter around the waist, warn researchers.

Dining in restaurants or munching on some fast food take-aways no doubt saves time and burden of toiling in the kitchen but, does not guarantee a hygienic, wholesome and nutritious meal. Experts at the American Cancer Society and Chicago University found an average American consumes 200 calories extra per day by eating out

Food cooked in restaurants and fast food chains contain high levels of sodium, sugar, unhealthy saturated fat and calories compared to a simple home cooked meal, reports the Daily Mail.

The study looked at 12,000 people aged between 20 and 64 who ate at restaurants for two consecutive days. It was observed the overall energy intake by eating fast-food increased by 194.49 calories. The participants' total saturated fat, sugar and salt intake levels also rose by 3.48 grams, 3.95 grams and 296.38 grams, respectively.

Restaurants that served food a la carte also influenced the average amount of calories, fat and salt consumption by 205.21 calories. 

In addition, the researchers also noted the African American communities and the middle income group  consumed more calories from eating out.  Subjects who frequently ate from food-joints and eateries reported eating less fruits, vegetables and nutritious food.

"Our study confirms that adults' fast-food and full-service restaurant consumption was associated with higher daily total energy intake and poorer dietary indicators," said Binh Nguyen, study author and researcher at the American Cancer Society, reports the Daily Mail.

The authors believe their findings present a realistic picture of socio-economic disparities in people's eating choices and habits. They add new policies and methods must be introduced to limit unhealthy eating and caloric count in restaurant food to prevent obesity and related diseases.

More information is available online in the Journal Public Health Nutrition.