Comments on: Fact or Ficton: Obesity is Contributing to Global Warming?

By: Erra

Erra — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:29:13 +0000

Obese people get that way by eating more calories than they need – that’s extra food being transported, processed, etc.
In addition, obesity tends to be correllated with people eating more processed foods, and the processing uses energy, and there may be additional transportation of ingredients.

But it isn’t just obese people who are using more fossil fuels – I’ve been obese, and am now underweight, and I use the car at least as much, and need more heating.

We all have to change our lifestyles to combat global warming, and most of us would benefit from more exersize.

My tip would be – walk or cycle to and from the grocery store. If you have to carry it all, you’ll probrably buy less, eat less, and think more carefully about what you buy.

By: Liz

Liz — Thu, 22 May 2008 10:17:59 +0000

Hi Adrienne, you are so right about the normal portions of meals — most normal servings these days are more like ’super’ servings…

By: Adrienne

Adrienne — Wed, 21 May 2008 14:21:54 +0000

To the person who said “Most fat people aren’t eating appreciably more than anyone else” – thats what most fat people think. I don’t mean that to be mean. I mean that as in there was a study on obesity and most obese people thought they had healthy eating and exercise habits, though they snacked twice more a day than their thin counterparts and ate larger portions. They also all felt they exercised “vigorously” and as someone who used to be obese, I know thats almost impossible at that size.

Most researchers have concluded that the combination of an excessive nutrient intake and a sedentary lifestyle are the main cause for the rapid acceleration of obesity in Western society in the last quarter of the 20th century.

For instance, reliance on energy-dense fast-food meals tripled between 1977 and 1995, and calorie intake quadrupled over the same period. Suprisingly obesity is rising at a rapid rate too.. hmmmmm.

And if overeating isn’t the cause, why do so many people solve this problem with gastric bypass and why does it work?

From 1980 to 2002, obesity has doubled in adults and overweight prevalence has tripled in children and adolescents. Since 1980 fast food restaurants have seen dramatic growth in terms of the number of outlets and customers served. Low food costs, and intense competition for market share, led to increased portion sizes—for example, McDonalds french fries portions rose from 200 calories in 1960 to over 600 calories.

The truth of the matter is, most people don’t know a normal portion for a mean is a piece of meat the size of a deck of cards + 2 servings of either veggie or pasta and a serving is a 1/2 cup. I’ve seen what people around me are eating FOR LUNCH and its not that small and lunch is supposed to be the smaller meal.

By: Liz

Liz — Tue, 20 May 2008 06:11:00 +0000

Hi Alicia, thanks for stopping by. I’m a firm believer in the simply philosophies and yours sounds pretty good – individual responsibility for the health and their environment.

By: Alicia Sparks, NAMI Affiliation Leader

Alicia Sparks, NAMI Affiliation Leader — Mon, 19 May 2008 20:17:05 +0000

I think that’s what it is: one of those things that keeps showing up and causing discussion.

In any event, I’m not really sold, either. I think everyone should do what they need to do to keep themselves and the earth healthy, and then just enjoy life. Simple sounding, I know, but that’s how I feel about it.

By: Liz

Liz — Mon, 19 May 2008 19:20:16 +0000

MizFit, I’m not sold either. As Rene has commented, skinny people also use up their share of fossil fuels in different ways — increased heating, athletes eating up big — so the connection between obesity and global warming is a long shot really. It’s a conversation starter though and it helps get people thinking about food consumption and fossil fuel costs.

Rene, thanks for joining in the discussion.

Israel, must have missed your post — heading over now to check it out. And yes, I too wonder why now — it’s not a new idea…maybe it’s one of those things that’s going to keep showing up and causing discussion.

By: Liz

Liz — Mon, 19 May 2008 19:14:44 +0000

sanskar, thanks for stopping and commenting. It’s definitely food for thought but I think the connection is very minute at best…it’s interesting, though, how much conversation it is causing. I think the bigger issue is the evironmental costs of food processing and transportion.

By: Israel

Israel — Mon, 19 May 2008 14:26:57 +0000

why is this getting such big woop now? I wrote about it in april…here: http://www.fatmanunleashed.com/fat-people-cause-global-warming-being-fat-isnt-very-green/

By: Rene

Rene — Mon, 19 May 2008 13:54:17 +0000

Id’ say this is more cow manure. Skinny ass people use up more fossil fuel trying to keep warm all winter. All of these jocks and athletes – now, they REALLY eat, so we need to all be more sedentary if you want people conserving calories. Most fat people aren’t eating appreciably more than anyone else… But the bigger issue is that the idea of human-caused planet change is the most nonsensical myth of all.

By: MizFit

MizFit — Mon, 19 May 2008 11:18:39 +0000

Id say no.
life so many scientific studies there APPEARS to be a tremendous link—but Im just not sold.

that said ditching the car? eating locally? lets do it ANYWAY and see what happens!