Saturday, May 17, 2008

Obese folks contribute to global warming?

Last week it was cattle. This week it is the obese. Whatever can we blame next!!?! However, I look at the conclusion of this research as another great reason to try and walk more, eat less, and hopefully shed some kilos.

As if they didn’t already have enough problems on their hands fat people are now being blamed for global warming. British scientists say they use up more fuel to transport them around and the amount of food they eat requires more energy to produce than that consumed by those on smaller diets.

According to a team at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine this adds to food shortages and higher energy prices. Mr Edwards and his colleague Ian Roberts argue that because thinner people eat less and are more likely to walk than rely on cars, a slimmer population would lower demand for fuel and food. Because 20 percent of greenhouse gas stems from agriculture any reduction in food consumption would help cut emissions.

At least 400 million adults worldwide are obese. The World Health Organization (WHO) projects by 2015, 2.3 billion adults will be overweight and more than 700 million will be obese. (Telegraph)

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