Researchers at the University of Illinios at Urbana-Champaign and Virginia Commonwealth University say that Americans weigh on average about twenty-four pounds more than they did in 1960. The economic and environmental impacts of increased fuel consumption are the focus of the study. “Gas guzzling” SUV’s have been in the public spotlight since fuel prices rose sharply in 2005. Amercia’s “obesity crisis” also often leads the nightly news. Some will surely jump on the new study as reason for more legislation, but I simply find it to be intriguing on a cause and effect level.

If I had the time and ability, I would do a study to see if the rise in popularity of the SUV coincides with the expanding of America’s waistlines. In other words, are big SUV’s popular not for their so called cargo capacity, but rather for the room up front? While I know several people who have bought an SUV over a sedan for this very reason, it is not the type of argument that one likes to advertise. As an exceptionally tall person, I am sympathetic to those who are annoyed by the pressure to drive “highly fuel-efficient” (read: tiny) cars.