To lose weight, skip the "Value Meals".

• Position: Diets - Fast-food restaurants - Brief article

For those who have resolved to lose weight this year, here is a tip: skip the bundled "value meals" offered by fast-food restaurants, suggests Kathryn M. Sharpe, professor of business at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville. These meals add more than just fries and a soft drink to cost-conscious consumers' meals; they also provide more calories than diners might expect.

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Consumers respond positively to the perceived cost savings and the simplified ordering process of a value meal versus a la carte options. This occurs even when there is no savings associated with choosing the combo meal.

"The perceived value of a bundled meal encourages consumers to super-size their orders. Our study found 26% of...