The environmental impact of obesity
People with a body mass index over 30 are considered obese, while those with a body mass index under 25 are considered normal weight.
The body mass index is calculated by multiplying weight by the square of height. A web-based application such as the following can be used for the calculation:
According to research (28), compared to a normal weight person, an obese person produces :
- 81 extra kilograms of carbon dioxide per year due to more intense metabolism,
- 593 extra kilograms of CO2 due to more food and drink consumption,
- 476 additional kilograms of CO2 due to increased road and air transport.
Overall, obesity is associated with about 20% more greenhouse gas emissions than normal weight.