Graphic reveals the junk foods driving America's obesity epidemic

America's obsession with pizza could be fueling an epidemic of obesity, a report suggests.

Medical experts at online drug marketplace Universal Drugstore analyzed Google search and survey data to determine the most popular junk foods Americans like to gorge on, totaling average calories, fat, and sugars for each to determine which ones were the unhealthiest.

Pizza was deemed the most popular, averaging more than 6million searches every month. However, it's loaded with 1,200 calories - half the recommended daily amount - and 55 grams of fat - more than the daily recommended amount.

Chili came in second place in terms of popularity with 2.7million searches, most of which came from southern states like Louisiana , Mississippi and Oklahoma , which also have recorded the highest rates of obesity in the country .

The cold weather staple had fewer calories than pizza but more than one-third of the daily recommended fat allowance.

The findings come as America's obesity epidemic surges, with 40 percent of US adults qualifying as obese and one in 10 having a BMI over 40, according to the CDC 's latest findings .

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But despite the grim statistics, the US is far from the fattest country , with smaller nations like Tonga and Samoa topping world rankings.

In the survey, tacos and steak took third and fourth place, with 1.8million and 550,000 searches each, respectively. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and fried chicken all tied for fifth place, ranging from 150 to 500 calories per serving.

The surge in obesity could be driven in part by an abundance of cheap, calorific foods like the ones commonly sought after, as well as large portion sizes.

Dr Jamie Winn, a pharmacist at Universal Drugstore, said: 'We are lucky to have so many delicious food options that derive from all different cultures right at our fingertips. However, endless options can lead to overconsumption.

'Overconsumption, especially of high-calorie, low-nutrient foods, is a primary cause of obesity, which occurs when more calories are consumed than expended.

'This can be made worse by excessive food intake and limited physical activity, which is a significant public health concern due to obesity's links to numerous chronic diseases, including diabetes , heart disease, and various forms of cancer .'

The team analyzed a survey from market research firm YouGov asking Americans in 2024 about their favorite foods.

Using that list, Universal Drugstore evaluated the average number of annual searches from Google Ads Keyword Planner to create its list of the most popular dishes in the US.

From there, the researchers used the USDA's FoodData Central database to determine the average calories, fat, and sugars in each dish.

They also evaluated the states where the selected foods were the most popular.

While pizza was the most popular food, it was also the least healthy. According to the findings, the average frozen cheese pizza is 1,210 calories, more than half of the USDA's recommended daily limit of 2,000.

However, that's the total for an entire pizza, which is usually split between at least two people. One serving is only about two slices. Given that most pizzas have around eight to 10 slices, each slice would be roughly 120 to 150 calories.

Though the least healthy pick, pizza reigned supreme in 37 states, including those with major hotspots like New York City and Chicago , as well as Midwestern states that have average obesity rates between 30 and 40 percent.

Pizza also contains 55 grams of fat. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend getting no more than 20 to 35 percent of your daily calories from fat.

If you're sticking to a 2,000-calorie diet, for example, that adds up to about 20 to 30 grams per day.

The researchers did not specify how much of that fat is saturated, however, which comes from foods like butter, cheese, cream and has been linked to high cholesterol, diabetes, and heart disease.

Pizza also contained the most sugar, with 16 grams per pie. This is about the same as five Chips Ahoy! cookies or one and a half Krispy Kreme classic glazed donuts.

The American Heart Association recommends no more than 24 grams of added sugar for women and 36 grams for men.

Chili took second place, garnering about 2.7million monthly searches. One bowl contains 286 calories.

That is about the same as two slices of pizza, which would run 240 to 300 calories. Chili also contains four grams of sugars and 18 grams of fat per serving.

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Additionally, the dish can quickly become less healthy when it gets topped with sour cream, cheese or crackers.

With 1.8million monthly searches, tacos were the third-most popular food on the list. These had 615 calories per serving, along with 18 grams of fat and just four grams of sugars

Steak, hamburgers, and hot dogs rounded out the top five, ranging from 148 to 418 calories.

This was followed by fried chicken and burritos, which ranged from 332 to 467 calories.

And tied for last place were pad Thai and Philly cheesesteaks, which had 320 and 549 calories per serving, respectively.

The researchers used the findings to urge Americans to only eat these foods in moderation to combat obesity and avoid excess calories, fat, and sugars.

Dr Winn said: 'A balanced diet is crucial in reducing the risks associated with obesity and overconsumption. It involves eating a variety of foods in the right proportions, ensuring that individuals get enough nutrients necessary for good health.'