Choosing to eat out instead of staying at home has impacts on the weight of Americans.  According to a study published in the February 2008 issue of American Journal of Preventive Medicine,  the increased availability of fast food restaurants like McDonalds and Burger King compared to full service restaurants like Applebees leeds to higher levels of obesity.

The research showed that for areas where fast food as more dense in, the higher the people weighed.  In other areas though where full service restaurants were more predominant, people weighed less.  This has to do with the food choices available at these two different kinds of restaurants.  Fast food restaurants typically deep fry their food, while restaurants spend time preparing them, perhaps on a grill with vegetables.