The McDiet? McDonald's CEO Don Thompson revealed at an analyst conference this week that he shed about 20 pounds in the past year by getting his "butt up" and "working out again." But he said he hasn't changed his habit of eating at McDonald's "every single day." (He didn't provide details.) Thompson, who has been on the job for less than a year, was responding to a question about how the world's biggest hamburger chain is adapting amid growing concerns about obesity.
In the course of his answer, Thompson said that Europeans walk a lot and that it's rare to see Europeans that are "very, very heavy. ... And so I think that balance is really important to people." McDonald's in recent years has boosted its marketing to highlight healthier menu options, including salads and egg white breakfast sandwiches. But Thompson also revealed that salads make up just 2% to 3% of sales, adding that he doesn't see them "being a major growth driver." (More McDonald's stories.)