In Part I of this series, we examined how the combination of childhood obesity, rising fuel
costs, and the real estate slump are causing school districts budgetary
nightmares. So how else are these
problems making each other worse – and our lives more difficult?
Living Large and
Commuting Longer
Americans are feeling the pinch of a struggling economy as
housing values fall and gas prices rise. Just eighteen months ago, gasoline was
less than $3.00 per gallon and the housing market was booming. Some grumbled
about the "high" cost of gas, but most were unconcerned about financing their
commutes.
Then reality set in that record housing prices and (what now
seems like) reasonable fuel prices wouldn't last forever. Sellers found it
increasingly difficult to break even, and home buyers became scarce. The result
is that many people can't afford to move closer to work or where their children
attended school. They'd like to spend less on gasoline, but they can't.
Buried in debt and saddled with a suddenly upside-down
mortgage, many families believe that moving is not an option. With every jump at the pump, a recently-
purchased SUV probably feels like another weight around an already-burdened
neck. And it's easier to trade-in a car than sell a home.
For students living in spread-out suburbs, walking to and
from school is not a realistic option. At the same time, busing becomes
increasingly important for parents who are trying to minimize driving. And for
the increasing number of students who are already obese, choosing to walk has
not been part of a youth culture that spends more time sitting down than ever
before.
Adolescent Obesity
Causes More than Health Problems
It's no secret that childhood obesity is a major health
issue facing American children. Between
1960 and 1973, the rate of adolescents whose body mass index (or BMI) was over the 95th percentile
rose from 4.6% to 6.1%. By 1999 - 2000,
that number had ballooned to 15.5%. Many
see this trend worsening as students become ever more hooked on sedentary
activities such as video games, computer use, and increased use of cell
phones.
Schools have been called upon to provide more nutritious,
lower-calorie food choices and to get rid of vending machines that offer only
high-sugar, high-calorie snacks and beverages.
Of course, as any grocery shopper can tell you, nutritious food is more
expensive than junk food.
As schools get with the program to address America's obesity epidemic, their food
expenses are also rising. With the price of staples such as milk also skyrocketing,
that grocery bill continues to increase. Rising prices for school lunches, coupled
with increasing numbers of students on free or reduced lunch programs, will
minimize revenues for paying higher fuel bills.
Supersize Your
Mileage
Theoretically, food and fuel costs would decrease if there
was a way to make driving more efficient and to reduce fuel consumption without
special equipment or additives. Enthusiasts are looking for ways to make this
happen. Thus a potential solution for all drivers known as hypermiling was born.
In the final installment of this three-part series, we'll
look at the impact that hypermiling brings and examine a possible solution for
both childhood obesity and high fuel costs.
Resources:
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/Americas/June-08/Gas-Prices-Force-Schools-to-Cut-Busing.html
http://blogs.webmd.com/heart-disease/2008/03/disconnect-in-childhood-obesity.html
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Re: A Perfect Storm of Fuel and Fat (Part 2)
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