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Global Warming Linked to Rising Obesity Rates Ahead of Earth Day
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by Tina Kells | April 21, 2009 at 09:55 am
161 views | 12 Recommendations | 2 comments
According to a new study that links rising obesity rates with global warming, fat people contribute at least a tonne more CO2 emissions each year when compared to their skinnier counterparts. The findings were released in time to make headlines just ahead of Earth Day.
The study states that increased food intake requires growing more food and transporting that food; both of which greatly impact green house gas emissions. Heavy people are also more likely to travel by vehicle than by bike or foot, and extremely obese individuals often stay away from any form of public transportation.
Dr Phil Edwards, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: Moving about in a heavy body is like driving in a gas guzzler.
Each fat person is said to be responsible for emitting a tonne more of climate-warming carbon dioxide per year than a thin one.
It means an extra BILLION TONNES of CO2 a year is created, according to World Health Organisation estimates of overweight people.
The scientists say providing extra grub for them to guzzle adds to carbon emissions that heat up the world, melting polar ice caps, raising sea levels and killing rain forests.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (2)
at 17:33 on April 21st, 2009
Hum, I can not disagree.
at 18:39 on April 21st, 2009
This is nothing more than a trial balloon by the establishment to see how the public will respond to a "fat tax". Good heavens, this stuff is crazy. Carbon Dioxide is not evil. Plants thrive on it, and need it to survive. This is a bunch of nonsense.