US Drivers Waste Over One Billion Gallons Of Gas A Year Because They Are Overweight

The health costs of obesity are well known: more frequent hospital visits, greater reliance on prescription drugs, a heightened risk for diseases like diabetes. What's less well known are obesity's economic costs. How much of a burden does obesity put on public infrastructure? On GDP? On the federal deficit?

Changes in gasoline consumption offer a lens for the scale of this larger question. Thanks to the startling rise in obesity, every year Americans consume at least a billion gallons more gas today than they would have if people were as trim as they were in 1960. For every additional pound of passenger weight, the United States uses up another 39 million gallons of fuel each year.
 

bfghemicuda - 4/30/2012 4:46:38 PM

+6 Boost

Then why is the guy driving this vehicle on the right side ? Maybe this is a world wide problem.

pchera01 - 4/30/2012 5:07:21 PM

+1 Boost

fat a$$ Americans
me too
lolz

Steve - 5/1/2012 1:56:10 AM

+2 Boost

I see motorcyclists investing big bucks in lightweight parts to shave off a few pounds and get better performance. I guess that's easier than getting the lard-ass in the saddle to lose a few pounds...though much more expensive.

FWIW, auto-makers have known about the fattening of North Americans for years. They've been building wider cars with bigger seats to accommodate the gravitationally enhanced. Canadians aren't exempt either.