clipped from: www.abc.net.au   
Michael Kahn

Obese and overweight people require more fuel to transport them and the food they eat, and a literally swelling global population will make this source of greenhouse emissions worse, say UK researchers.

obese person

Dr Phil Edwards and Dr Ian Roberts from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine argue their point in this week's issue of The Lancet.

"We are all becoming heavier and it is a global responsibility," Edwards says. "Obesity is a key part of the big picture."

At least 400 million adults worldwide are obese. The World Health Organization (WHO) projects 2.3 billion adults will be overweight and more than 700 million will be obese by 2015.

Because thinner people eat less and are more likely to walk than rely on cars, a slimmer population would lower demand for fuel for transportation and for agriculture,
This would take the pressure off food and energy supplies and reduce greenhouse gases from agriculture and transport, he says