Scientists say fatties to blame for eating the world up

[Mark Latimour]

Yes, this is an actual headline from a news story on one of Australia's main news sites:

Originally Posted by news.com.au

Scientists say fatties to blame for eating the world up

THE rising number of fat people has been blamed for global warming.

Scientists warned that the increase in big-eaters means more food production - a major cause of CO2 gas emissions warming the planet, according to a report in The Sun. The environmental impact of fat humans is made even worse because they are more likely to travel by car - another major cause of carbon emissions. Each fat person is said to be responsible for a tonne more of climate-warming carbon dioxide per year than a thin one due to factors including higher food and fuel consumption. It means an extra billion tonnes of CO2 a year is created, according to World Health Organisation estimates of overweight people.

Dr Phil Edwards, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: “Moving about in a heavy body is like driving in a gas guzzler.” Researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine say wealthy nations like the US and Britain are getting fatter by the decade. “Food production accounts for about one fifth of greenhouse gases,” Dr Edwards said. “We need to do a lot more to reverse the global trend towards fatness. It is a key factor in the battle to reduce carbon emissions and slow climate change. “This is about over-consumption by the wealthy countries. And the world demand for meat is increasing to match that of Britain and America.

The study by Dr Edwards and colleague Ian Roberts is published in the International Journal of Epidemiology. Dr Edwards went on: “We are not just pointing the finger at fat people. All populations are getting fatter and it has an impact on the environment."

A staggering 40 per cent of Americans are obese, among 300 million worldwide. Australian Professor Paul Zimmet predicted a disastrous obesity pandemic back in 2006. Predictions for Australia are even more alarming than America, with 60 per cent of Australia's population expected to be obese by 2019.

Oxfam warned yesterday that the number of people hit by climate-related disasters will soar by more than half in the next six years to 375 million. The impact of more storms, floods and droughts could overwhelm aid organisations.

Source: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574...17-401,00.html

From time to time you come across a news story that is so outrageous, it is required posting. This is one of those stories.

BTW for those interested in discussing the merits, the original source of the story appears to be the Sun in the UK, a tabloid, but the article's scientific content appears to come from a study published in a real journal. The copy as ridiculous and misleading as it is though, is all news.com.au!

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally Posted by Mark Latimour

the original source of the story appears to be the Sun in the UK, a tabloid...

That's all you need say - the Sun is not a serious newspaper - it is a scandal sheet and has the worst of the worst - at its best, it is soft porn for morons!!

I would be truly embarassed if anybody I knew, read the Sun!

[Toasted]

It's not as bad as the Mail, Bruce.

[Mark Latimour]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

That's all you need say - the Sun is not a serious newspaper - it is a scandal sheet and has the worst of the worst - at its best, it is soft porn for morons!!

I would be truly embarassed if anybody I knew, read the Sun!

I am sure you could think of lots more thnings to be embarassed about Bruce!

[Bruce Lindfield]

All I am saying is that anybody who took the Sun seriously, would be a total embarassment!!

[Mark Latimour]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

All I am saying is that anybody who took the Sun seriously, would be a total embarassment!!

Someone I imagine you typing this while smoking your pipe in your Barbour jacket strolling through the hills reading your copy of the Guardian.

[Bruce Lindfield]

I have got a Blue Barbour Jacket which is waterproof and breathable :

http://www.barbour.com/index.cfm?fus...D=24&RangeID=1

...and I read the Guardian every day!

[Toasted]

Not the Grunuiad, Bruce?! I thought you'd be an Indie reader.

[sarcastro83]

This article is absolutely true. I will eat anything you put in front of me after indulging in a big, old fatty.

[CrispyDelicious]

Originally Posted by sarcastro83

This article is absolutely true. I will eat anything you put in front of me after indulging in a big, old fatty.

I had no idea you were into obese grandmothers.

[sarcastro83]

GMILFs, my friend. The squeaking of artificial joints only contributes to the music of love.

[Relic]

Originally Posted by sarcastro83

GMILFs, my friend. The squeaking of artificial joints only contributes to the music of love.

If I only had room, I would sig that one, it's just too good to let go.

[jazzy grille]

Well, now is as good of a time as any to start eating fat people...

[Thunderscreech]

Originally Posted by jazzy grille

Well, now is as good of a time as any to start eating fat people...

I do already. She rather enjoys it.

[MakiSupaStar]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

That's all you need say - the Sun is not a serious newspaper - it is a scandal sheet and has the worst of the worst - at its best, it is soft porn for morons!!

I would be truly embarassed if anybody I knew, read the Sun!

Sounds like my kind of paper.

[DudeistMonk]

Sure it makes a little sense...

After all hamburgers alone contribute more to global warming than SUVs. (Think shipping, cooking, packaging, refrigerating, cow methane, processing...)

but I put more stock in the exponential growth of the human population...

Humanism has it right, limit reproduction and everyone will lead better lives. Of course since people are an expendable resource for use by governments in war and manufacturing we are going to multiply until like the rabbits we all starve.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

The Sun "newspaper" has words in it ?

[jazzy grille]

Originally Posted by Thunderscreech

I do already. She rather enjoys it.

Oh my, that was lewd.

[Jeremy Crockett]

Originally Posted by DudeistMonk

Humanism has it right, limit reproduction and everyone will lead better lives.

This should be fascinating...

Exactly who decides on the limit? The Government?

[L-A]

Originally Posted by Jeremy Crockett

This should be fascinating...

Exactly who decides on the limit? The Government?

Self-regulation I guess.

It happens through epidemics, widespread bad health, violent leaders, starvation. Anything we can find, really.

Eating yourself to death is definitely an improvement over the black plague.