Habit dies hard

I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve thought to myself, “The only way I’m giving up a Spicy Jack is if I have a heart attack.” Well apparently, not even then.

Six months after a heart attack, more than half of those who’ve been explicitly told the dangers of doing so, go back to their favorite fast food joint. They are there at least once a week according to research published in the American Journal of Cardiology.

Nearly 2500 heart attack patients were studied by John Spertus, University of Missouri/Kansas City, and 36% reported that during the month before their heart attack they ate at least once a week at a fast food joint. Six months after being released from the hospital, one fifth had gone back to their old habits.

“Fast food consumption by patients with AMI (acute myocardial infarction) decreased 6 months after the index hospitalization, but certain populations -- including younger patients, men, those currently working, and less educated patients -- were more likely to consume fast food, at least weekly, during follow-up,” Spertus wrote.

So maybe they were ordering salad at McDonald’s or the grilled chicken at Jack in the Box. The survey didn’t ask what they ordered. But since the people in the study had a health profile “consistent with selection of less healthy options” it seems more likely they would be like me and go for the deep fried chicken with cheese on a white bread bun. Extra mayo please.

Source: Reuters