For years, a sedentary lifestyle has been presented as one of the main causes of the explosion of obesity in developed countries. However, an international study published in the scientific journal (PNAS) sheds a different light on this public health issue. After analyzing data from more than 4.000 people across six continents, researchers conclude that increased calorie intake plays a far more significant role than decreased physical activity in the progression of obesity.
The results show that people in industrialized countries expend roughly the same amount of energy as some populations living in much more physically active societies, such as hunter-gatherers or traditional rural communities. According to the authors, the major difference lies more in the quantity and quality of food consumed than in the level of daily exercise.
Ultra-processed foods are being singled out.
The study specifically implicates the increasing prevalence of ultra-processed foods in modern diets. Rich in sugars, saturated fats, salt, and often very high in calories, these products are playing a growing role in the diets of developed countries. Researchers observed a correlation between their consumption and increased body fat levels in the populations studied.
According to several specialists, this shift in diet explains the rise in obesity cases more than the decrease in physical activity alone. The authors nevertheless emphasize that sport remains essential for cardiovascular health, maintaining muscle mass, preventing many chronic diseases, and promoting psychological well-being.
Towards a new approach to public health policies
These findings could lead to a shift in prevention strategies. While public health campaigns often emphasize physical activity, several experts now believe that greater attention should be paid to the nutritional quality of food and reducing the consumption of ultra-processed products.
Faced with a global epidemic that continues to spread, researchers are advocating for measures that promote a more balanced diet, better access to fresh produce, and improved consumer information. For them, the fight against obesity depends as much on what we eat as on physical activity, with nutrition now playing a central role in prevention policies.
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