Humankind – be it Australian, Argentinian, Belgian or Canadian – is getting steadily fatter.

Globally, there are more than 1 billion overweight adults, at least 300 million of them obese.(1)

In nearly every country in the world, average body mass index (BMI) is rising. Between 1994 and 2004, the average male BMI in England increased from 26 to 27.3, with the average female BMI rising from 25.8 to 26.9 (about 3 kg – or half a stone – heavier).

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines “overweight” as a BMI equal to or more than 25, and “obesity” as a BMI equal to or more than 30.

What’s this got to do with climate change?

Latest research (International Journal of Epidemiology 2009;1-5) indicates that a lean population of 1 billion people would emit 1.0 GT (1,000 million tonnes) less carbon dioxide equivalents per year compared with an overweight one.

Researches Phil Edwards and Ian Roberts of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine’s Department of Epidemiology and Population Health say, because food production is a major contributor to global warming, a lean population will consume almost 20% less food and produce fewer greenhouse gases than a population in which 40% of people are obese (close to that seen in the USA today).

As sunlight passes through the atmosphere, greenhouse gases (water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide) absorb part of the energy, while the remainder escapes into space. This means that some of the sun’s energy becomes trapped, making the lower part of the atmosphere, and Earth, warmer.

Atmospheric carbon dioxide comes from a number of natural sources, mainly the decay of plants, volcanic eruptions and as a waste product of animal respiration.(2)

Burning fossil fuels releases the carbon dioxide stored millions of years ago as carbonate minerals, oil shale and coal, and petroleum in the Earth’s crust when organisms that used photosynthesis died. Fossil fuels are used to run vehicles (petrol, diesel and kerosene), heat homes, businesses and power factories.

Edwards and Roberts also reason transport-related emissions will be lower because it takes less energy to transport slim people – again reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

Carbon dioxide is probably the most important of the greenhouse gases as it accounts for the largest proportion of the ‘trace gases’ and is currently responsible for 60% of the ‘enhanced greenhouse effect’.(3)

Many scientists think that the ‘enhanced greenhouse effect’ is caused by increasing concentrations of these greenhouse gases, which has led to an increase in the world’s average temperature.

Should this concern us?

Oxfam has warned natural disasters caused by climate change will affect up to 4oo million people within six years.

Oxfam used the best-available data of 6,500 climate-related disasters since 1980 to project that the number of people affected by climatic disaster will rise by 133 million to 375 million people a year, on average, by 2015.(4)

And as climate change gathers pace, this trend is likely to continue to increase well beyond 2015. They say rich countries must commit now to cut greenhouse gas emissions in order to keep global warming as far below 2°C as possible, and to provide at least $50 billion a year in finance to help poor countries adapt to unavoidable climate change.

So is it time for fatties to get on their bike and eat less?

Instead of sitting in front of TV, eating bargain buckets and drinking 6 packs, should overweight people be put through a rigorous exercise regime, not only to lose weight, but to generate electricity?

Recent innovation has seen the advent of the Sustainable Dance Floor.   The dance floor is a fusion of electronics, embedded software and durable materials. Every tile makes a vertical movement of up to 1 cm when danced on. These movements are transformed by an advanced electric motor into electric power.

Every person is able to produce 2-20 Watt, depending on the dancers weight and activity on the dance floor. The generated energy can be used to power other systems.

If a person spends one hour per day running on a special power generating machine, he/she could generate 18.2 kilowatts of electricity and prevent 4,380 liters of CO2 released per year. The energy created by the bikes could be used to power lights and any excess energy can be stored in batteries.

Competitive cyclists can produce 100 – 300 watts for between 20 minutes and one hour depending on fitness level.

Semi-competitive cyclists can produce 50-150 watts for between 20 minutes and one hour depending on fitness level.

Recreational cyclists can produce between 20-100 watts for between 20 minutes and one hour depending on fitness level.

Below is an example of power consumption and will vary considerably depending on the manufacturer and capacity.(4)

So exercise can improve your health and contribute to a greener environment.

Perhaps the police could raid McDonald’s once in a while and escort people with a BMI in excess of 25 to the local gym.

Either way, drastic action is needed if we are to reverse the affects of climate change and the global trend towards fatness.

related articles,

Cold Turkey, Obesity and Sterilization

Heroin and the ‘Fat Tax’

Why not put Heroin in our Cornflakes?

Addiction to Pills that Kill

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Ann Margrain

Founder, ‘Heroin and Cornflakes’ blog.

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Latest news..

January 21. 2010 1:00AM

Eco-friendly Detroit gym caters to homeless

Charles E. Ramirez / The Detroit News

Detroit — Cass Community Social Services, a nonprofit group that works to help Detroit’s homeless, unveiled Wednesday a new gym intended to help people get fit and help the environment at the same time.

Local dignitaries, including Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano, attended the gym’s grand opening. The group is calling the fitness center the nation’s first “green gym” for homeless men, women and children. The workout facility features recycled exercise equipment, and its centerpiece is 10 stationary bikes that generate electricity for the nonprofit to use, said the Rev. Faith Fowler, Cass Community Social Services’ executive director.

“Not only is this gym a good idea for the environment,” Fowler said, “but it will help keep our clients, who often struggle with diabetes, heart problems and other diseases, be active and contribute something to the planet at the same time.”

Rory Carroll

guardian.co.uk,

American imperialism remains an issue but Hugo Chávez has identified a new threat to Venezuela’s socialist revolution: obesity.

The president has sounded the alarm about his compatriots’ expanding waistlines and called on them to wage battle against the bulge, saying the revolution needed them fit and strong.

“There are lots of fat people,” he said in a televised speech, and they needed to diet and exercise. “Doing sit-ups. Eating well. One has to learn how to eat.”

Chávez’s intervention was prompted by a study which suggested that in the past two decades the average adult Venezuelan’s “excess” weight had ballooned from 6.3kg (1 stone) to 14.5kg.

The same study said nutrition had improved, and the president said the revolution had ensured even the poor had three meals a day. “Now we are eating better but we need to be careful,” he said. “Watch out for the fat people!”

The 55-year-old said he has lost nearly 20kg with exercise and a better diet, though he remains noticeably chunkier than when he took office a decade ago.

Chávez recommended soy milk and rice pasta instead of spaghetti made from wheat, saying they fought ageing, and made him feel “ready to continue commanding the Bolívarian revolution”.

In televised speeches the president often blends tirades against the “yankee empire” with advice to his countrymen to read books, shun consumerism, save water with three-minute showers and save electricity by using a torch for nocturnal trips to the bathroom.

Battling obesity, however, may be a doomed fight. Venezuelans are fanatical about fattening dishes such as chicharrón (fried pork rinds) and like to fill arepas, a type of corn patty, with roast pork, beef and blocks of cheese. Meals are not complete without fizzy drinks, beer or rum and Coke.

Despite the government’s exhortations, Venezuela remains an Americanised society which treats baseball games as a cue for hotdogs and fries.

Fast-food restaurant chains do not encourage moderation. “No more diets!” proclaims a billboard advertising campaign in Caracas, tempting motorists with images of burgers, milkshakes and chocolate brownies.

Latin America used to suffer widespread malnutrition but rising incomes and changing lifestyles – especially a trend towards junk food – have produced an epidemic of western-style obesity.

Mexicans now drink more Coca-Cola products – 136 litres a head in 2007 – even than Americans. Type-two diabetes and other obesity-related diseases are straining health services.

In Venezuela, many of those who are in Chávez’s sights see no problem with their size. Men routinely lift T-shirts to ventilate big bellies and on the beach large women have no problem wearing G-strings.

One of Venezuela’s most famous beauty queens, Alicia Machado, almost lost her 1995 Miss Universe title for putting on weight. Donald Trump, the pageant organiser, called her an “eating machine”.

Chávez, who is facing legislative elections next year, was careful not to alienate women and referred to gordos, fat men, rather than gordas, the female equivalent. “I’m not saying fat women, because they never get fat.” He added coyly: “Women sometimes fill out.”

A historic oil boom has thickened Venezuelan wallets and torsos but the government’s record on food is mixed. Galloping inflation saw food prices jump almost 50% last year.

Government efforts to control the price of pork and other favourites have prompted farmer protests and collapse in agricultural production. Food imports rose to $7.5bn last year, a sixfold increase since Chávez took power.

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