Americans too fat for good gas mileage

[CoolBreeze]

Automakers have long tried to figure out how to get Americans to buy smaller cars. But with obesity rates climbing, at least one analyst says there's little point in trying.

Growing waistlines simply prevent a lot of U.S. drivers from feeling comfortable or secure in smaller cars. So, unless the entire country goes on a diet, says Dan Cheng, vice president and partner at business consulting firm AT Kearney, we may be destined to keep driving big cars no matter how much a gallon of gas costs in the future.

Cheng says the number of light trucks – a segment of the car market that includes SUVs, minivans, and pickup trucks – has increased steadily since the 1970s. And so has the percentage of adults in the U.S. who are classified as obese.

The number of obese people in the U.S. is expected to increase from 40% this year to about 43% in 2018, Cheng says. Cheng predicts that will keep almost half the population from even considering a small car except for purely economic reasons as small cars tend also to be cheaper than big cars or SUVs.

http://autos.aol.com/article/are-americ ... ive-small/

[genlock]

I am big boned.

[Greg Goodfellow]

The downhill route can be a real rush.

[Jay Nunley]

Also, small cars suck.

[Bob Campbell]

I am big boned.

Dinosaurs are big boned, put the chicken wing down!

[cgarison]

I am big boned.

Dinosaurs are big boned, put the chicken wing down!

Sorry... I am a leg man.