The weight of the world may sound like an impossible equation to calculate, but researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine have determined that the weight of the human species totals roughly 3.5 million tons, or, if you prefer, 3.9 million metric tons.
Unfortunately for those of us living in the United States, we’re once again considered to be the heaviest country on the entire planet. According to the study, we make up nearly 34 percent of that astronomical weight despite the fact that the U.S. only represents 6 percent of the planet’s population. By comparison, the Asia comprises nearly 61 percent of the global population, yet they contribute only 13 percent to the weight of the world. Yikes.
After pouring over data from the World Health Organization, scientists determined that the average global body weight is around 137lbs. However, this number does vary greatly by region. For instance, the average weight in North America is about 178lbs, while those living in Asia are averaging about 127lbs.
What does all of this weight mean to us as a species? According to scientists, the increasing bloat of the human race could ultimately have “the same implications for world food energy demands as an extra half a billion people living on the earth.” That is a pretty scary thought.
Below you’ll find a list of the heaviest and lightest nations on the planet. Once again, the United States takes the top spot. If that doesn’t leave you feeling a little thick around the midsection this morning, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ranked the U.S. as having the most overweight and obese adults. Insert audible sigh here.
The 10 Heaviest Nations
1. United States
2. Kuwait
3. Croatia
4. Qatar
5. Egypt
6. United Arab Emirates
7. Trinidad and Tobago
8. Argentina
9. Greece
10. Bahrain
The 10 Lightest Nations
1. North Korea
2. Cambodia
3. Burundi
4. Nepal
5. Democ. Rep. of the Congo
6. Bangladesh
7. Sri Lanka
8. Ethiopia
9. Vietnam
10. Eritrea