The famous McDonald’s Big Mac. “Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions on a sesame seed bun” proclaims the advertisements, but what the advertisements don’t proclaim is how many calories are in a Big Mac. Interestingly, because the recipe for a Big Mac changes from country to country, how many calories in a Big Mac changes too. For convenience, we have collected the information from several countries so that we can compare the calories in a Big Mac. We have also listed the carbohydrate, fat, and protein quantities in a Big Mac.
| Country of Manufacture | Calories | Protein | Fat | Carbs in a Big Mac |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Mac from USA | 540 | 25g | 29g | 45g |
| Big Mac from UK | 490 | 28g | 24g | 41g |
| Big Mac Australia | 493 | 24g | 26g | 35g |
Here we can see how many calories are in a Big Mac. Do those numbers seem like a lot? They certainly are when you consider how many calories a day most people should eat. Let’s compare the calories in a Big Mac to some other types of food and see how a Big Mac stands up. The Big Mac from the US has a staggering 540 calories, which is the equivalent of:
- More than 8 medium eggs
- More than 4 and a half chicken breasts
- More than 6 large oranges
How Many Calories in a Big Mac
The calories in a Big Mac are mainly in the form of fats, carbs, and protein. Use the calorie calculator on the right to find out how much exercise you need to do to burn off the calories from one Big Mac. Depending on your weight and nutrition goals. You may find that the occasional Big Mac fits in with your health plan without a problem. For people who aren’t leading extremely active lifestyles however, the calories in a Big Mac may be too much to consume on a regular basis without gaining weight. The high fat content of a Big Mac in particular can lead to health or even medical concerns such as obesity or morbid obesity if that fat is not converted to energy by physical exercise.
Big Mac Calories
So now we know how many calories are in a Big Mac; but that’s just part of the equation. The Big Mac calories aren’t the only calories that most people eat when they go to McDonald’s; there are also fries, sodas, perhaps an apple pie or a sundae. Some people will eat more than one burger. Some people get a thick shake with their meal. All these extra calories usually get consumed as a meal along with the Big Mac. When was the last time you went to McDonalds and just bought a burger without buying anything else with it? The calories in a Big Mac meal are much high than the calories in a Big Mac by itself.
Calories, Big Macs, and health
Calories in Big Macs are certainly a concern, but only if you eat an excessive amount of them on a regular basis. Like all diets and nutrition plans, moderation is the key. If you eat Big Macs every day, it will probably wreak havoc with your diet. Particularly if you have a large soda and an ice-cream sundae as well. If you only have Big Macs every now and then, you should be able to factor the extra calories into your exercise routine to make up for it without any detrimental effect.
The nutritional information used in this article was researched from the following sites:
