Eating Out Doesn't Guarantee Weight Gain

Restaurants were considered "fast food" if patrons paid before eating. In "full-service" establishments, patrons paid after eating.

The study pointed out that it's not clear if people actually consume fewer calories at full-service restaurants, or if individuals choose full-service restaurants because they offer healthier foods.

One study that compared "fast food" with food from full-service establishments found that meals from both contained similar amounts of total fat, but that full-service foods had lower amounts of saturated fats and higher levels of cholesterol and sodium.

For those fond of eating out, Guiliano recommends the "50 percent solution," meaning eat only half of what's on the plate. Or order two appetizers, share a dish and split dessert.

"You have to be a little bit savvy and know yourself and know how to plan," she said. "You shouldn't feel you should deprive yourself. You can have a little bit of everything. The French way is more about small portions and variety. Learn to not go overboard, because the price to pay is just too expensive."

More information

For more on healthy eating, visit the Harvard School of Public Health.

SOURCES: Virginia W. Chang, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor, medicine and sociology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia; Mireille Guiliano, author,French Women Don't Get Fat; February 2008American Journal of Preventive Medicine