With Mayo Clinic nutritionists Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.

A physician friend of mine just routed an article to me from a recent Lancet, a medical journal. In it, the authors suggest that obese people contribute more than their fair share to demands for world oil and to the food shortage. Oh, no, here we go again — another dig at those battling the bulge.

In their short commentary, the authors note that heavy folks eat about 20 percent more calories than leaner people, and that they prefer to drive to the market. Therefore, obese people use more gasoline to move those extra pounds.

Hmmm. Although I agree with the physics, at first reading it seemed a bit far fetched. Yes those of us who are struggling with weight do consume more calories, and it's true that we need to walk more. Cars use gas. Tractors use gas to help raise crops. Crops feed people — and now are being converted to ethanol to feed the tank. Therefore fuel for people and for cars is becoming in short supply — and more costly.

So — those extra pounds might be at the root of our current fuel (food and oil) crisis? It's gotten me thinking. In my commitment to becoming "greener" (and leaner) this will become one more reason for me to buy local, cut back on the extra helpings, and walk more. I'm going to do my part and help resolve the global fuel problem.

What do you think?

- Jennifer

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