A Study Found Out That If You Spend a Lot of Time Stuck in Traffic, You’re Going to Order More Fast Food

We've all been there: stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic, patience wearing thin, and stomach starting to grumble. Recent research from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign reveals that these frustrating delays do more than test our tempers—they significantly increase our likelihood of opting for fast food over home-cooked meals.

Traffic Delays and Fast Food Visits

The study analyzed two years of data from Los Angeles County, notorious for its traffic woes. Researchers discovered that even a minor delay—just 30 extra seconds per mile—led to a 1% uptick in fast food visits. While 1% might sound negligible, in a sprawling metropolis like LA, this translates to approximately 1.2 million additional fast food trips annually.

The findings suggest that unexpected traffic congestion exacerbates time scarcity, pushing commuters toward the convenience of fast food. After a long day and prolonged time on the road, the allure of quick, ready-to-eat meals becomes hard to resist, especially when the alternative is spending more time preparing food at home.

This shift in eating behavior has broader health implications. Increased fast food consumption is linked to various health issues, including obesity and cardiovascular diseases. The study underscores how daily environmental factors, like traffic, can inadvertently steer us toward unhealthier lifestyle choices.