The Gas Tank Is Half Full: Oil and Obesity

It is hard to be optimistic about the cost of gasoline (currently around $145 per barrel), but some still manage to see the silver lining. While some see the good in the increased attention given to energy and alternative fuels, others point to technological innovations sparred by necessity. Charles Courtemanche, a professor at UNC Greensboro currently finishing his dissertation, sees another silver lining, claiming that a:

“$1 increase in the price of gasoline could cut the obesity rate by 10 percent, saving 16,000 lives and $17 billion in health care costs each year.”

Obesity is a major risk factor in many other diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease. In the U.S., where a third of adults are obese (BMI of 30 or higher) and another third are overweight (BMI of 25 to 29.9), a 10 percent decrease in obesity could mean major consequences for health and quality of life- but how does this connect to gas prices? Courtemanche concludes that high gas prices lead to an increased use of public transportation, biking, and walking- all of which add up to greater daily caloric expenditure. Furthermore, the pinch on finances has Americans deciding to dine in instead of going out to restaurants, where portions are larger and calorie and fat content are higher than at-home meals.

Some of Courtemanche’s critics say that we will not see any real changes in behavior, citing that Americans will sooner buy a more efficient car than hop on a bike, but Wired’s Autopia Blog points out that we will soon know whether Courtemanche’s $1 hypothesis was true:

“The national average for a gallon of gas was $3.22 when he wrote his paper last year. It's now at $4.10. He's planning a follow-up study.”