Plumbing And Obesity

Stephen Dubne proposes a novel theory:

Is it possible that the availability of good plumbing has contributed to our national weight gain? This may sound ludicrous, but think about it for just a moment. Very few people have to trek through the night to use an outhouse anymore; furthermore, restroom facilities are readily available just about everywhere which means you don’t have to worry about getting rid of your waste, which frees you up to consume as much as you’d like.

Is he shitting us?