Healthy eating: It takes THREE HOURS of walking to burn off the UK's favourite burger
How long does it take to burn off a burger? New healthy eating research shows us the reality of fast food


By Matt Evans
If you're partial to a takeaway from popular chains like TGI Fridays, Gourmet Burger Kitchen or Five Guys, this is going to be an uncomfortable read.
While we're obviously big advocates of healthy eating here at Fit&Well, there's nothing wrong with enjoying comfort food from time to time. However, if you're looking to lose weight, it's good to bear in mind how much exercise you're doing and balance your dietary choices accordingly.
- NEW: Three health hacks to lose weight and keep it off long-term
- PLUS: Could you get your 5-a-day, every day, for 30 days?
This research is a good example of why you need to be mindful when it comes to healthy eating. Researchers from MyVitalMetrics, a London-based firm specialising in measuring athletes' metabolic rates, oxygen intake and other fitness metrics, have averaged out the nation's vital statistics and looked at how many minutes of exercise would be needed to burn off the UK's most popular takeaways, analysed according to Deliveroo statistics over the last year.
A standard cheeseburger from Five Guys contains an average of 980 calories. The average adult man would need to briskly walk for three hours to burn off that many calories. Alternatively, he would need to run for 77 minutes, cycle for 87 or clean the house for four and a half hours.
Of course, not all the calories from a burger will be stored as fat: everyone's body is different, and our metabolism burns some of them simply while resting. However, while you don't actually have to go on a three-hour hike, understanding the amount of calories we're eating in a single sitting is a sobering thought.
The average woman's body burns calories in a slightly different way to a man's, and MyVitalMetrics has calculated it would take the average woman around twenty minutes longer to burn off the full 980 calories.
However, the Five Guys cheeseburger isn't even the unhealthiest entry in the list: Wagamama's chicken katsu curry works out at 1,076 calories a portion, requiring men to walk for 200 minutes and women to walk for 234 minutes, on average, to burn it off. Even the curry pales to TGI Fridays' whiskey-glazed sesame chicken strips, an enormous 1,870 calorie appetizer. Appetizer.
On average, men would have to walk for 343 minutes or run for 145 minutes to burn off the equivalent amount of calories, while women would need to walk for 399 minutes – 6.65 hours – or run for nearly three hours. The full list of takeaway options, calorie counts and equivalent exercise can be found on the MyVitalMetrics website.
- Walking to lose weight: How to get started
With 65.3 million orders placed via JustEat in the first quarter of 2020, it's clear we're in love with a good takeaway. We need to balance the foods we love with good nutrition, lots of exercise and healthy eating habits elsewhere in our lives, reducing our intake of unhealthy stuff.
For example, drinking lots of water before meals can stop us overeating. One study found middle-aged adults who drank a glass of water before mealtimes lost 44% more weight than those who didn't. Another great way of securing a balanced diet is by doing your best to get your five-a-day, which will help combat cardiovascular and cancer risks to help you live longer.
Liked this?
-
-
How to use Strava - plus is the fitness app any good?
Wondering how to use Strava? Allow us to break down the activity tracking and analysis app for you...
By Howard Calvert •
-
This man was bullied for being fat in high school, so he spent years getting ripped
Weight loss Queensland's Anthony Bayer overcame food addiction and a sedentary lifestyle to turn his health around
By Matt Evans •
-
Best blenders: The top smoothie makes and food processors for cooking healthy
Buying Guide Whip up healthy smoothies, soups and juices with the best blenders you can buy right now
By Lee Bell •
-
Fit&Well Awards: Gymshark and Marcus Rashford are amongst our Headline Award winners!
Awards Plus the results of our exciting nominated-by-the-public Trainer of the Year award...
By Stephanie Wood •
-
Why chilli peppers are a secret weight loss superfood needed in every healthy diet
Nutrition The capsaicin in chilli peppers helps increase our metabolism and improves weight loss, says new science
By Matt Evans •
-
Fit&Well Awards: meet our Healthy Home Heroes!
Awards Discover the products that will help you to a healthier, happier home life
By Stephanie Wood •
-
How to eat healthy, lower blood sugar and feel full, according to science
Nutrition Blood sugar crashes trigger a hunger response, leading us to eat more during the day, according to this new study
By Matt Evans •
-
Why green leafy vegetables are essential for getting fit and building muscle
Nutrition It's not all about protein: the nitrates in leafy vegetables are sorely needed to stay healthy and build muscle
By Matt Evans •
-
Late night snacks could be bad for your health and your work, says science
Nutrition Your snacking habits could be affecting your body's health and affecting your performance at work
By Matt Evans •
-
Healthy eating: Research says THIS is the healthiest way to cook rice
Nutrition Researchers have developed a healthy way to cook rice which changes the starch content
By Matt Evans •