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More than one-third of Americans report eating fast food every day

People walking in front of a McDonald's restaurant
Photo: Omar Marques/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images.

From 2013 to 2016, more than one-third of adults in the United States ate fast food or pizza every day, a new survey shows from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

One key finding: The percentage of adults who consumed fast food increased with higher family income. 42% of families of four with a total income per year greater than $112,950 reported they ate fast food daily, compared to only 32% for families with a total income of less than $32,360.

Time, financial resources, price and availability has influenced America's fast food consumption, the survey explains. Fast food, which is broadly defined as any item obtained from a "fast food/pizza" establishment, is notorious for high caloric, low nutrition meals.

By the numbers: The survey used physical examinations and in-person interviews of about 10,000 adults to produce demographic, socioeconomic and health data, including dietary information.

  • 44% of Americans will eat fast food for lunch and 42% for dinner.
  • Men are more likely to grab fast food at lunch while women consider it more of a snack.
  • The most enthusiastic consumers are 20 to 39 years old, 45% of them eat fast food on any given day.
  • Only 1 in 10 Americans eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables, per CDC.

What to watch: The fitness industry is booming and yet Americans are more likely to be obese today than ever before, a NCHS National Health Interview Survey shows.

Go deeper: Health and wellness are booming, but we're fatter than ever

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