Even if you don't sport a hybrid car, and you sometimes forget to recycle, here's another way you can save the planet -- and get skinny to boot: Lace up those walking shoes.

One scientist estimated that if everyone in the United States substituted an hour of walking a day for driving the same distance, oil consumption would be slashed by 38 percent. And the average Joe would burn 26 pounds a year!

It All Adds Up
A daily walk is one small step for you, but possibly one major collective step forward for humankind. If we all were a little less car-minded and a little more walking-minded, it would save billions in healthcare costs related to obesity. And what if those savings were applied to carbon-abatement programs? It's estimated that climate protection on that scale could reduce carbon emissions by up to 35 percent. Need to quickly lose a few pounds in time for summer? Try this program!

More Ways to Be Green and Healthy
Eco-friendly habits and age-reduction habits often go hand in hand. Here are a few more ways to save the planet and make your RealAge younger at the same time:

• Add some greenery to your home. Here's how it helps your health.
• Drink more water. From the tap!
• Kick chemicals out of your house. Read this article and take the quiz at the end to see if your home could be toxic.

Exercise-based transportation reduces oil dependence, carbon emissions and obesity. Higgins, P. A. T., Environmental Conservation 2005 Dec 1;32(3):197-202.