We all have different reasons why we want to be slim. For some it’s image – self-confidence. For others, it’s for health. I doubt, however, that many of us think of dropping pounds as way to help the planet.

A new study published this week in the International Journal of Epidemiology suggests that maybe we should. The study maintains that a leaner population would be much better for the environment. Consider: food production is a major contributor to global warming. So is the transport-related pollution that results from moving food around the world.

In nearly every country, the average body mass index (BMI) is growing, and as a result the world as a whole is getting fatter. But if we all started to reduce our food consumption, this would change. According the researchers, a lean population of 1 billion people would emit 1.0 GT (1,000 million tonnes) less carbon dioxide equivalents per year compared with a heavy one.

Image: Pink Sherbet Photography

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