To the Editor: The incidence of obesity is
rising at an alarming rate in the United States, with nearly 18% of adult
Americans now considered obese.1 High-calorie
diets, due in part to the proliferation of fast food restaurants, are an important
contributing factor.2 Surprisingly, hospitals—institutions
traditionally involved in the promotion of health-related behavior—are
increasingly contracting with fast food franchises that frequently offer limited,
high-fat, high-calorie menus.3 The prevalence
of such franchises in hospitals across the United States is not known.