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Our American society is in the midst of an obesity epidemic. At the same time, we're an image-obsessed society, demanding physical perfection from ourselves. We've developed a horrible fat-skinny dichotomy. This can be seen in the fact that there are more obese people than overweight people.
Being overweight means being 1-20 pounds over your target weight. And studies have shown that people who carry a few extra pounds on their body actually have a better chance of surviving a serious illness than skinny people. Overweight people still run a greater risk of heart disease. I'm illustrating this point to stress the fact that no one is demanding that everyone have perfect bodies. A little extra weight isn’t that bad, even though you may be self conscious about it.
Obesity, on the other hand, is just plain bad for your health. It is also bad for the planet. Some scientists are claiming that obesity contributes to global warming. Here are their reasons.
Reason 1:
Obese people eat more food. They are reported to consume "18% more food energy due to their greater body mass." Obesity, therefore, requires 18% more food to be produced and shipped. In the US, up to 30% of the produced food may be thrown away. I don't know if I buy this claim whole hog, but there are some kernels of truth to it.
Reason 2:
Obese people are heavier and, therefore, require more gasoline to transport themselves. This is a fact. The heavier something is the more force takes to move. Losing weight will not only decrease carbon emissions, but it will decrease the amount spent on gasoline.
It's never too late to start losing weight. I realize that this is a sensitive subject to some, but it's a health issue. People who are obese are risking their lives. You wouldn't let someone with the pneumonia go bobsledding. It's the same sort of issue.
More on the Environment and Weight Loss
Get that Weight Off and Keep it Off: 15 Ways
5 Eco-Friendly Ways to Improve Your Health
How to Go Green: Workouts
Consciousness Equals Greener, Skinnier Life
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