Calories vs. Inactivity: What Drives Obesity Rates?
A new study from Duke University’s Pontzer Lab challenges the common belief that rising obesity rates in wealthy nations are mainly due to reduced physical activity. Instead, the researchers found that people in industrialized countries often expend as much or in some cases more daily energy than those in less-developed areas.
After analyzing data from over 4,200 adults and 34 diverse populations, they determined that increased caloric intake, not decreased energy expenditure, is the primary driver of obesity. Specifically, they found that total energy expenditure is only slightly lower in more developed countries and doesn’t account for increasing levels of obesity in those populations. However, dietary changes tied to economic development are more strongly linked to increased body fat.
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