stlbites.com – st. louis food blog of bill burge

Gas Taxes=Weight Loss?

Sep 13, 2007 general food, health

A Washington University researcher, Charles Courtemanche, suggests in a Washington University News Release that,

“An additional $1 in real gasoline prices would reduce obesity in the U.S. by 15 percent after three years.”

He believes people would drive less opting for walking or cycling instead, and also that the increase in food cost to restaurants would drive consumers to cook more meals at home. These meals, he seems to assume, would be more healthful.

Interestingly, the New York Times earlier in the year, had different statistics.

“Mr. Courtemanche says his findings support his hypothesis that when gas is expensive, people are more prone to walk rather than drive. A $1 increase per gallon, he estimates, would decrease the prevalence of obesity by 13 percent, prevent 15,000 deaths annually and save $16 billion a year in medical costs. He proposes that gas taxes be used to improve public health.”

This is the strangest way I’ve seen yet to fight obesity, and statistics aside, I think, for the vast majority of Americans, “home cooked” more often then not means “home reheated” and that’s often not a whole lot healthier then eating out.