You probably can name obvious ways to reduce your carbon footprint, such as using energy-efficient light bulbs or recycling. Other aspects of your everyday life also affect the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. One subtler way is being overweight. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that over two-thirds of Americans are overweight, with one-third being obese. The effect, therefore, that being overweight can have is widespread.
Everyday Choices
It begins with little things. You may find the stairs harder to climb, so you take the elevator or escalator instead. You spend more time on the couch than out exercising because you always feel tired. Walking or biking to the store a half mile away seems like a chore, so you drive instead.
Pretty soon, your choices start adding up to a greater carbon footprint. All the while, you're gaining more weight and compounding the problem. Your environmental impact and waistline both expand.
The Cost of Diet Choices
Another source of problematic weight control is diet. The “Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010” estimates that the average adult American consumes 2,674 calories a day. The recommendation for a moderately active 30-year old woman is 2,200 calories.
Part of the issue lies with diet choices. Another study by the University of Chicago estimated that the average American diet contains nearly 50 percent of the caloric intake from animal sources. Animal-based proteins carry a high environmental cost, which the study placed at 2.52 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent or about nine percent of the average American's total carbon footprint.
A diet high in protein steers you away from more earth-friendly choices, such as fruits and vegetables. It also contributes to your weight gain and health risks with foods containing saturated and trans fats. To make things worse, saturated fat and cholesterol have addictive qualities that can perpetuate this vicious cycle.
Health Care and Your Carbon Footprint
If you are overweight, your risk for chronic disease increases. You have a heightened chance of developing heart disease, diabetes and a host of other conditions. The larger percentage of overweight Americans has in part, fueled the carbon footprint of the health care industry.
A study by the University of Chicago estimated that the industry contributes about eight percent to the nation's total carbon dioxide emissions. Several things add to this figure, including lighting, temperature control and ventilation. The pharmaceutical industry also is a major player. As the use of prescription medications rises, the impact may increase as the population ages.
Reducing your carbon footprint may not be your primary motivation for getting fit. However, in the long run, both you and the environment will benefit from your healthy choices.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Sources:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). FASTSTATS - Overweight Prevalence. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/
- Chung, J., & Meltzer, D. (2009). Estimate of the Carbon Footprint of the US Health Care Sector. Journal of the American Medical Association, 302(18), 1970-1972. doi:10.1001/jama.2009.1610
- Dunn, C. (n.d.). Eat a Vegetarian Diet, Reduce Your Carbon Footprint by a Ton. TLC. Retrieved from http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/
- Eishel, G., & Martin, P. (2006). Diet, Energy and Global Warming. Earth Interactions, 10, Paper No. 9. Retrieved from http://pge.uchicago.edu/
