Is being fat a crime?

It's is no secret that obesity will cause many health issues like heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and stroke. But to actually say that being fat is a crime, really? Seriously?

YES, it is totally pollution! Some of you may be taken aback, but the fact is that lean is green and larger people leave larger carbon footprints on the world.

Food consumption:

You often hear considerate people saying "Hey! don't waste food, children in Africa are starving and you are wasting food!" But we laugh it off and suggest we send the food to Africa. Does it sounds like a joke, that there is a finite amount of food in the world and yet it is growing scarce?

Recent food riots Haiti, Sudan, Yemen, Mexico, Egypt, and other countries are a stark reminder that many people do not have enough to eat. The cost of staple foods such as corn, rice, and wheat are at record highs across the globe, and some can't even afford to feed their families.

Meanwhile in the United States, obesity is at an all-time high; two-thirds of adults in the Land of Plenty are overweight or obese. Obesity is perhaps the ultimate symbol of resource consumption; it's visible proof that overweight people already has more than they need—and take more anyway.

The causes of food shortages are varied and complex, but if Americans simply ate lesser food, there would be more for the rest of world. By some estimates, the average American consumes about 4,000 calories per day; that's twice what they need. Those 2,000 fewer calories would be available for those who truly need the food, and help to conserve Earth's natural resources.

Air pollution:

Surprise?! Overweight people create more air pollution than thin people, it's simple physics: Extra pounds translate into extra fuel in automobiles and airplanes. Extra fuel means increased energy usage, oil drilling and air pollution.

In 2004, a study done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that for every ten pounds gained by the average American, airlines burned 350 million more gallons of fuel to carry the additional weight. That fuel spewed an estimated 3.8 million extra tons of carbon dioxide into the air.

And as for that smaller hybrid car? It's a good start, but there's not much point in buying fuel-efficient vehicles if you're going to fill that large seat with your extra-large butt; you might as well throw a few sandbags in the trunk. Fuel efficiency drops dramatically with more weight the engine has to pull; the lighter you are, the less gas you burn, the more money you save, and therefore less pollution you emit.

Of course, going green by going lean is easier said than done, and only part of the problem. But by getting ourselves healthier we also help save the planet, our loves ones and their future. Not a bad deal right?

Thus thou shall not be fat
References: http://www.livescience.com/environment/080430-lean-green.html