Physical Wellness

Wealthy Most Likely to Eat Fast Food, Poll

By Christine Hsu | Update Date: Aug 14, 2013 12:06 PM EDT

Wealthy Americans eat the most fast food, according to a new Gallup poll.

The Gallup Consumption poll revealed that 51 percent of Americans earning more than $75,000 annually ate fast food on a weekly basis compared to 39 percent of Americans who earn less than $20,000 a year.

"The poorest Americans earning below $30,000 visit fast-food restaurants less frequently probably because they simply can't afford to eat out weekly," Gallup anaylist Andrew Dugan told the Daily News.

"In fact, richer Americans earning $75,000 or more are far more likely to believe fast food is 'not too good,' or 'not good at all,' for you than the poorest two income groups, but nonetheless the richest Americans frequent fast-food establishments more often," he added.

Researchers say that convenience may trump health for wealthy Americans looking for a quick bite. Even though 85 percent of wealthy Americans say fast food is unhealthy, convenience and taste factor into their high consumption.  In contrast, people with lower annual incomes may view fast food as a rare treat, explaining why low-income individuals consume the least amount of fast food.

The survey involved 2,027 adults, and found that 80 percent of Americans eat fast food monthly, almost half eat fast food weekly and only 4 percent say they ever eat fast food.

Young adults between the ages of 18 and 29 were most likely to eat at fast food restaurants, with 57 percent saying that they do so on a weekly basis. 

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