Hold the Fries, Improve Your Miles Per Gallon…
According to an AP report by Lindsey Tanner reported in The Tennessean Business Section today, “Americans are burning nearly 1 billion more gallons of gasoline each year than they did in 1960 because of their expanding waistlines.”
Using the data and calculations given in the study, the extra 15 pounds I’ve put on over the last few years is costing me about $10 per year in excess fuel consumption at today’s gasoline prices. While this does not seem significant on an individual basis, consider that we are now a population of about 250 million, and on average, the weight for American adults increased about 25 pounds from 1960 to 2002. The study concluded that hauling around all this extra weight for the entire population consumes almost 1 billion gallons extra, which translates to $2.2 billion more spent on gasoline.
Now I begin to understand why all the big oil companies have revamped their stations to include fast food, bakeries, ice cream counters, and huge displays of snacks, soft drinks, and beer. Biggie-size that for you?
7 Comments so far
I think some of the portion sizes are….. getting out of hand, to be honest.
Save the Mayo, Save the World…
A couple of local bloggers are talking about a report that says that expanding waistlines are causing consumption of more gasoline. Winston at Nobody Asked responds thusly: Using the data and calculations given in the study, the extra 15 pounds……
After looking at the original study, I didn’t see any references to the changing weight of automobiles (are cars heavier now than 1960), the changing height of Americans (who are also getting taller as they get heavier) and the changing composition of automobile engines, which burn fuel more efficiently.
Cars aren’t much heavier today, but trucks definitely are, and nearly half of the vehicles we buy are trucks of some sort: pickups, vans, SUVs. There is no standard-sized minivan under 4000 lb, and most full-sized pickups now weigh over 5000 lb. Today’s engines are more efficient, but the laws of physics will not be overruled by mere engineers.
(Disclosure: I drive what the marketers call a mid-sized entry-luxury sedan. It weighs a mere 3350 lb.)
You are so right, Winston. It hadn’t even occurred to me that the gas stations are now also fast-food stops for many of us. It’s “good business” in any number of way, huh? -mg
Fiona: You’re so right. A dozen large potatoes must die to make one Large order of fries.
Kat: The report was full of holes. The study may have been also. Bottom line point is valid, but the story you and I saw and blogged about was quite hokie and amateurish.
CG: Somehow I knew this one would draw you our of your den…
Mary: Good to see you out and about again!
Not to mention all the oil used in frying the fries and the doughnuts and the …