Rising fuel prices may bring health benefits

A new study that links rising fuel prices to reduced obesity rates may be good news for the nearly two thirds of Michigan adults that are overweight or obese.

People exercise more and cut back on restaurant food as gas prices rise according to, “A Silver Lining: The Connection Between Gas Prices and Obesity,” published last week by Charles Courtemanche, of Washington University’s Dept. of Economics.

Courtemanche found that a dollar increase in real gasoline prices would reduce obesity in the U.S. by 15 percent after five years, and that 13 percent of the rise in obesity between 1979 and 2004 can be attributed to falling real gas prices during that period.

Gas prices could be a long-term solution to the obesity problem, said Teresa Mastin, Associate Professor in MSU’s Dept. of Advertising, Public Relations, and Retailing.

“People are strongly encouraged by financial reasons to do things that they might not normally do,” she said.

But Mastin warned that the lack of sidewalks in many Michigan communities will make it difficult for people to chose walking over driving.

“You may be able to walk to your local Mejier’s, but you might not if there are no sidewalks.”

Michigan should not rely on high fuel prices alone to solve the state’s obesity problem; it should also promote attention to portion size and communication about the caloric content of restaurant foods, Mastin said.

“What we really should be concerned with is lifestyles and creating communities in a way so that people can make healthy choices regardless of gas prices or snack marketing.”

The Michigan Department of Community Health estimates the statewide cost of medical expenses related to physical inactivity at 8.9 billion dollars per year.