Green Girl

ABC recently covered a report produced by UK researchers suggesting that the increasing problem of obesity in the U.S. is contributing to the depletion of our ozone layer. While it might seem like a wild assertion, the researchers claim that the 400+ calorie a day difference in the amount of food necessary to feed an obese person could actually contribute to environmental problems because of the necessary use of resources in producing that food.

Critics have suggested that these studies are bogus and fan the flames of fat-hatred. In the United States, we throw away more than 400 calories of food each day per person, so it is more likely that waste is at the root of our food-production pollution.

It’s an article worth reading, no matter which side of the debate you fall on. While I agree with critics that it seems unfair to blame folks carrying a little extra weight around for damaging the environment, I do like to consider the ways that our individual choices can impact the environment. If taking better care of ourselves helps to make the world a cleaner, greener place, then it’s probably not a bad idea to consider the impact we’re making.

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