US-based health club chain, Bally Total Fitness, has revealed its latest campaign to educate obese Americans in order for them to rethink their diets.

Bally has created a web-based Fast Food Calculator, which allows people to get accurate information about fast food and the corresponding exercise information.

Users can select a product and then be able to see how much exercise they must undertake to burn off the acquired calories.

For example, in order to burn off a typical fast food meal (a quarter pounder hamburger, extra large French fries, a large cola soft drink and a chocolate shake), a 11st male would have to walk briskly for 10 hours and 48 minutes, or run for three hours and 36 minutes – the equivalent of a marathon.

The Fast Food Calculator is part of the first phase of the “Everybody Needs Something” scheme – a nationwide educational initiative aiming to correct misinformation about food choices.

The scheme was developed following a national survey by Bally, which revealed that 55 per cent of Americans felt a need to lose more than 20 pounds.

Robert Widman, director of nutrition and education at Bally, said: “Six out of ten Americans are overweight and a major reason is a lack of understanding about the fat and calorie content in what we eat.

“The Fast Food Calculator will be a valuable resource in helping to guide people to make educated choices on what they are putting into their bodies.”

Bally Total Fitness is one of the leading operator of fitness centres in the US, with around four million members and 420 outlets in 29 states.