by DANIELLE GUSMAROLI, Evening Standard

You may think you are eating to be kind to your waistline - but think again.

The McDonald's Caesar salad, to be launched this month amid concern over spiralling obesity levels, is more fattening than the burger.

In its biggest menu revolution in 30 years, the restaurant chain will introduce the grilled chicken salad at 1,235 of its branches with a choice of Caesar dressing, or the lighter option of a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.

However, anyone hoping the salad option will help battle the bulge should read the nutritional information on the McDonald's website.

Fatty dressing

It shows that ditching the burger for a salad is no good for slimmers.

For with dressing and croutons it contains 425 calories and 21.4g of fat, compared with the 253 calories and 7.7g of fat in the standard burger.

Adding a portion of fries to your burger brings the calorie count to 459 - still less fatty than the salad at 16.7g.

Last month McDonald's announced it will ditch its super-size portion of fries and soft drinks at British outlets by the end of the year amid a backlash against firms blamed for an "obesity epidemic".

Medical experts have drawn a direct link between increasing obesity and giant portions of everything from fast food to chocolate bars and crisps.

A super-size portion of fries at McDonald's contains 486 calories, more than double the 206 calories in a regular serving.

The corporation said that without the creamy dressing and croutons on the salad, the fat falls away and the less calorific balsamic vinegar dressing contains only 2g of fat.

A spokeswoman added: "Free of dressing, a chicken salad has only 222 calories. It's the Italian cheese that makes the difference."