A One-Ton Reason to Lose Weight: The Global Climate

Photo: Stockxpert

related articles

Losing weight, it turns out, is not only good for you, but good for the environment.

In a study out of London (where else?) researchers were able to state the obvious: "overweight people eat more than thin people," as Reuters put it, and the production of that food comes at a greater environmental cost. Not only does body fat add to one's carbon footprint directly, through the production and transportation of food, but overweight people are more likely to drive rather than walk, leading to another environmental impact, according to the study.

A few extra pounds, then, adds up to a lot: About a ton, in fact. The study estimates that an overweight person is responsible for an extra ton of carbon dioxide emissions, as compared to his thinner neighbor.

Being American already makes our carbon footprint "fat." While the average European Union citizen accounts for about 11 tons, the average American accounts for nearly 23.

But take these diet recommendations with a grain of -- uh, hold the salt. It may not be eating too much food that's making us fat, according to a new study conducted by Dr. Philip J. Landrigan (one of The Daily Green's 2009 Heart of Green Award nominees) in East Harlem and reported in the New York Times: exposure to phthalates may be the real culptrit.

For some tips about how to slim down, and slim down the environmental impact of your diet, see The Daily Green's Earth Day Diet.

COMMENTS ()