London, Apr 18: Shedding those extra calories by dieting may make you feel great and look good but the scientists now say that it is a great way to save the planet.

Scientists at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine's department of epidemiology and population health say food production is a major contributor to global warming.

Along with the 40 per cent extra food the obese people consume on comparison with the slimmer counterparts, transport-related emissions will also be lower if people are slim because it takes less energy to move them around.

Dr Phil Edwards, one of the leaders of the study was quoted in the Scotsman saying, "It's about seeing that actually as a population by being a particular shape and by being a certain weight we have an impact on the climate. "

He added, 'When it comes to food consumption, moving about in a heavy body is like driving around in a gas guzzler. The heavier our bodies become the harder and more unpleasant it is to move about in them and the more dependent we become on our cars."

In the research paper, the authors highlighted that; people are becoming fatter, whether in Australia, Argentina, Belgium or Canada. And Edwards said the situation would be likely to become even worse because people in developing countries too have started eating more.

ANI