Fat gas, skinny ass

"An additional $1 in real gasoline prices would reduce obesity in the U.S. by 15 percent after three years," said Charles Courtemanche, an economics researcher at Washington University in St. Louis.

"If the price of gas rises, the cost of driving also rises, which may affect body weight in two ways," Courtemanche said.
The first, he said, may lead people to drive less, leading to more exercise like walking or bicycling.
"If a person uses public transportation, such as subways, buses, trolleys, or rail services, the need to move to and from the public transit stops is likely to result in additional walking, again decreasing weight," he said.
The connection, he said, may lead people to eat out less, since the cost to drive to the restaurant is increased.

According to Courtemanche's analysis, the reduction in obesity caused by a $1 increase in gasoline prices would save 16,000 lives and $17 billion a year.