This may come as a surprise, but a report from a scientific firm based in Washington, has revealed that obese people are contributing up to 45 per cent to global warming. Undeniably, planet earth is witnessing a major climate change in the world. And if you think it's only greenhouse gases doing the damage, think again. The scientific evidence which recently emerged, stated that obesity and global warming are linked. Could it be true or is it just one more way of making overweight people feel guilty? Fahmina Anwar, the team leader of nutrition and dietetics services at the Artemis Health Institute says, "Obesity worsens global warming. Compared to people with normal weight, the obese consume 18 per cent more food energy. In India, urbanisation is slowly leading to obesity which is causing global warming." Experts believe that more transportation fuel energy is used to transport overweight people. Why? Simple physics, really. The more weight in the car, the lower the mileage. If you look at the issue of global warming, it's not just transportation, which is a concern, but also the food system itself that could be considered the culprit. "It's not only the Indian food system which is to blame, but junk food which is making people all around the world, obese. Overweight people require more food, and more fuel to transport them. This further causes global warming," says Dr Pinky Kumani, a dietician. Former Miss India, Neha Kapur, says, "It is quite certain that obesity causes global warming, but what is more alarming is the fact that obesity is itself an epidemic and needs to be dealt with. Parents should take care of their children from a very young age because obesity becomes difficult to fight when you are older." Renowned dietician, Dr Shikha Sharma says that it's not only obesity, but also lifestyle factors, which are causing disastrous climate changes all over the world. She says, "Obese people aren't the only ones to be blamed. Everyone eats junk food, which is served in non-biodegradable packages. We all will have to make a conscious effort in curbing global warming. You cannot single out obesity for causing global warming." Think twice before you enter a fast food joint and begin to chomp on that chicken burger with oily fries the next time. You might just be contributing to rising temperatures around the globe.