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McDonald's Big Mac or Burger King Whopper? Which is healthier?

Updated on May 28, 2013

Choosing between the McDonald's Big Mac or the Burger King Whopper? Which one is healthier? Which one is bad for you? It's the Big Mac vs. the Whopper!

People have different preferences when it comes to their fast food. And choosing between McDonald's and Burger King is no different. Some prefer to have the Whopper and some prefer the Big Mac. But while similar in competition, no one sandwich is a clear winner when it comes down to it being healthy.

Calories
Whopper 670 calories vs. Big Mac 550 calories
It's clear that the Whopper has more calories in this measurement. However, you should look at home much is derived from fat. The Whopper has 360 calories from fat and the Big Mac has 260 calories from fat. More than half of the Whopper's calories are from fat (at 53%). The Big Mac is a little less, but not by much, at 47%.
Winner: Big Mac

Protein
Whopper 29 grams vs. Big Mac 25 grams
For protein, both sandwiches are similar.
Winner: Big Mac

Carbohydrates (Carbs)
Whopper 51 grams vs. Big Mac 46 grams
Although the Big Mac has essentially 3 buns, it's still less in carbs compared to the Whopper.
Winner: Big Mac

Sugar
Whopper 11 grams vs. Big Mac 9 grams
Sugar is also very similar in both sandwiches.
Winner: Big Mac

Fat
Whopper 40 grams vs. 29 grams
The Whopper just clobbers the Big Mac in fat. And this is bad! More fat is bad.
Winner: Big Mac

Saturated Fat
Whopper 11 grams vs. Big Mac 10 grams
Very similar compared to each other in saturated fat. These sandwiches provide more than half of the saturated fat limit for the day. Be careful!
Winner: Big Mac (but not by much)

Trans Fat
Whopper 1 gram vs. Big Mac 1.5 grams
Again, very similar trans fat in both sandwiches.
Winner: Whopper (but not by much)

Cholesterol
Whopper 75 milligrams vs. Big Mac 75 milligrams
Wow, this is a tie for both sandwiches. They provide about 1/4 of what your limit of cholesterol should be in a day.
Winner: Tie

Sodium
Whopper 980 milligrams vs. Big Mac 1000 milligrams
Too much sodium can lead to hypertension and a host of other health problems. The recommended limit per day is 2400 milligrams of sodium. Eating these sandwiches will take up almost half of your recommended intake in a day.
Winner: Whopper


McDonald's Big Mac vs. Burger King Whopper: The Nutrition Numbers

 
Big Mac
Whopper
Winner
Calories
550
670
Big Mac
Protein (g)
25
29
Big Mac
Carbohydrates (g)
46
51
Big Mac
Sugar (g)
9
11
Big Mac
Fat (g)
29
40
Big Mac
Saturated Fat (g)
10
11
Big Mac
Trans Fat (g)
1.5
1
Whopper
Cholesterol (mg)
75
75
Tied
Sodium (mg)
1000
980
Whopper

It is apparent that the clear winner here is the Big Mac. The only negative about it is the sodium content.

Do you prefer the McDonald's Big Mac or Burger King Whopper?

See results

In Conclusion, they're very similar

As noted in the chart, they're very similar. What it comes down to is the sandwich that you prefer he most. With all the stats down on paper, you cannot account for personal taste preferences. Some will prefer one over the other.

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