People consume more calories, sugar, fat, and salt when they go to a restaurant, whether it’s full service or a fast-food outlet, says a study in the journal Public Health Nutrition. Researchers examined responses from 12,000 adults who took part in a national survey. The data showed adults who ate restaurant food consumed 200 more calories and fewer fruits, vegetables, and vitamins than people who dined at home. Blacks tended to consume more than whites or Hispanics, and middle-income people ate more than high-income people.
The authors of the study said efforts to improve diet and reduce energy intake from restaurant sources could actually help to reduce racial and socio-economic disparities in Americans’ diets.