We all know the risks of being obese.
The porkier person is at an increased risk of heart disease, liver disease, certain cancers and type-2 diabetes; however, we bet you never considered the effect that your waistline has on your mpg.
Well, according to new research from US car insurance firm Allstate, 1 billion gallons of fuel have been wasted since 1960 in the USA alone carrying around passengers' excess flab.
The research also finds that an increase in vehicle weight of 100kg (around 15 stone) increases fuel consumption by 2%. Think about that the next time a bloated friend asks for a lift.
In recent years, car manufacturers have gone to great lengths to cut the weight of their vehicles and consequently improve fuel economy; however, fatties across the world are negating these advantages by piling on the kilos.
Currently, almost a quarter of Britain's adult population is overweight, and by 2030 it is estimated that there will be 26 million obese people waddling around the UK.
So, if you're of the, ahem, big-boned variety and you want to save money at the pumps, save the cash you were going to spend on a hybrid... and buy a treadmill.
