An Inconvienent Lardass

Between the years 1970 and 2000, American's calorie intake has increased nearly 25%. This has led to an astounding 62% of Americans being overweight.

Doctors have long recommended an average calorie intake of 2000 calories per day, but the growing availability of food coupled with convenience driven lifestyles, has led Americans to consume more than their fair share. The rest of the world is beginning to take notice, and some are starting to take action.

Young entrepreneurs across third world countries, seeing the growing problem of obesity in America affect their would-be supplies of food aid, have developed a model that would restrict each person's consumption of calories to a recommended level. Any food eaten over that level would require the purchase of a 'calorie offset' either from a person that has chosen to limit their own intake, or is taking part in a federally certified calorie burning exercise program.

Calorie offset skeptics claim that a person should be allowed to eat whatever they choose, but many people are starting to disagree with that sentiment. Proponents of the calorie offset initiative state that it will not only increase the food supplies of the world, but also the amount of available medical aid. According to 1998 National Health Accounts data, overweight and obese health care costs totaled over $78 billion dollars, nearly three times the current US foreign aid budget.

A major promoter of offsetting calories has been former Vice President Al Gore. Recently it has been estimated that Mr Gore consumes 20 times more calories than the average American. He has defended his gluttony by stating that his calorie intake is proportionate to his size and is currently offset by his rigorous exercise routine. His detractors have been pointing fingers at his lifestyle and claiming hypocrisy at his consumption of fast foods during his tour to promote the new DVD release of his exercise video.

Across the globe however, calorie offsets are steamrolling in popularity. At 1000 calories per calorie credit, the estimated 450 million malnourished people in the world would be able to generate 900 million calorie credits. With a rate of just 50 cents per calorie credit, each calorie offset aggregator would earn approximately 1 dollar per day, an amount which some experts say would provide life's basic needs -- education, health care, and nutritious food.

Much of the world has yet to implement a formal calorie offset program. Currently offsets are done strictly on a volunteer basis.

Recently I had a chance to speak with Mohammed, a 12 year old Ethiopian boy who says he is dying to get into the calorie offset program. When I asked what he would do with the money he earned by offsetting American's eating habits, he replied, "Probably buy some rice."