Monday, April 20, 2009

This Explains it All

The BBC (everyone trusts the Beeb, right?) reports that a new study suggests that if we just go back to the 1970s, when people were slimmer, we wouldn't have this global warmingclimate change problem.  Here is the article.  A hat tip to Professor Ann Althouse.

So, I guess it is back to the old days.
The rising numbers of people who are overweight and obese in the UK means the nation uses 19% more food than 40 years ago, a study suggests.

That could equate to an extra 60 mega tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year, the team calculated.
We lived in the UK in 1974 and it was a wonderful experience.  I wonder if we can go back?

In the mean time, here is the end of the article:
It is not just a UK issue - in nearly every country in the world, the average BMI [body mass index] is rising. [This means you, Mr and Mrs North and South America and all the ships at sea.]

Professor Alan Maryon-Davis, president of the Faculty of Public Health said shifting the population weight distribution back to that of the 1970s would do quite a lot to help the planet.

"In the 1970s we had bigger portions of vegetables and smaller portions of meat and there's been a shift in the amount of exercise we do.

"All these things are combining to hurt the planet and this is a calculation that deserves a bit more attention," he said.
So, there you have it.  Eat your veggies and go out for a walk now and then.

Regards  —  Cliff

1 comment:

  1. Cliff,

    From a public health point of view, at least, we definitely have a problem. A buddy of mine was just stationed in Germany...his immediate reaction upon landing in Norfolk/VA Beach? Americans are a heckuva lot fatter than folks in the Old Continent.

    Remember how many people (myself certainly included) felt frustrated with Bush 43 when, at a time of crisis, he never *demanded* or even asked anything more of people than to "go shopping?"

    As health care costs skyrocket, and as obesity-related illnesses become more of a drain on society (and our pocketbooks) I wonder if we'll ever wish we had some national leadership willing to *go there* and encourage people to get off their sofas and try to abide by the oldest diet advice ever -- be a little more active, take in fewer calories.

    But I won't hold my breath waiting for any national leader to do anything of the sort..that would be, well, un-pandering (is there such a word?)

    best,
    gp

    ReplyDelete

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