Are Credit Cards Contributing To Obesity?

by Heather McLaughlin

Studies have found that not only can credit cards be harmful to your financial wellbeing, they may also be a contributor to bigger waistlines.

Many fast food restaurants are now offering the ability to pay for “food on the run” with the convenience of a swiped credit card. No signature required to pay for these meals that are often devoured in the car.

“It can add up very quickly,” said Jennifer Neily, a registered and licensed dietitian at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas.

According to a study from Visa, fast-food customers who pay with plastic spend 30 percent more than those who pay with cash.

“Adding one extra item can add several hundred calories,” Neily said.

While adding one extra item can add more than 500 calories, even less-fattening additions can pack on the pounds. “If you eat 100 calories a day more for a year, you can gain 10 pounds,” Neily said. Neily gave diners a bit of advice.

“We need to downsize portion size and super-size common sense,” she said.

What are your thoughts on paying for fast food or other “eats” on credit cards? Do you think these meals are worth the ‘interest’ you have to pay both on your monthly credit card bill and your exercise routine?