Obesity also weighs on the health of the planet: being weighed down by extra pounds is equivalent to producing a greater quantity of CO2 emissions both because of the body's metabolic processes (more weighty in overweight and obese individuals), and because of the excess of food consumed by those suffering from obesity.
This is what emerges from a study published in the journal Obesity: at the global level obesity contributes to an excess of 700 mega-tons (one mega ton is one billion kilos) of CO2 emissions per year, equal to about 1 , 6% of all man-made emissions.
However, the study was conducted by experts from the University of Copenhagen, Alabama and the University of Auckland in New Zealand, who stressed that these data must not lead to the stigmatization of excess weight. People suffering from obesity are already victims of discrimination, and numerous studies have documented the existence of different stereotypes.
"This study shows that we pay a very high price for the difficulty in accessing treatment against obesity - says Ted Kyle, founder of ConscienHealth. Not only does the problem affect obese patients, but the untreated excess weight can also contribute to environmental problems".