Research
Energy balance
The reduction in occupational physical activity, rather than a lack of formal exercise, is a major contributor to the obesity epidemic, creating a zone of low energy expenditure where intake becomes uncoupled from expenditure.
Incorporate movement into your workday. If your job is sedentary, try to stand, walk, or move frequently during the day, as this has a larger impact on daily energy expenditure than formal exercise alone.
ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
Church and Martin propose that the present low level of occupational activity has pushed most people into a zone of low energy expenditure in which intake becomes somewhat uncoupled to expenditure.
Why this rating
Based on a perspective/review by Church and Martin, cited within an editorial.
Source
Three New Perspectives on the Perfect Storm: What's Behind the Obesity Epidemic?
Éric Ravussin et al. · Obesity · 2017
DOI 10.1002/oby.22085
narrative_reviewCited 40×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- The obesity epidemic is primarily driven by an obesogenic environment—specifically the increased availability of highly processed, calorie-dense foods and reduced occupational physical activity—acting on genetically susceptible individuals, rather than by genetics alone.Moderate
- Highly processed, palatable, and cheap foods (high in sugar, fat, salt, and flavor additives) trigger overconsumption of calories by shifting eating behaviors from home cooking to snacking and large-portion meals.Moderate
- Secondary environmental factors—including poor sleep hygiene, decreased cigarette smoking, increased atmospheric CO2, thermoneutrality, screen time, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, medications, and an unhealthy microbiome—contribute to the obesity epidemic by tipping the energy balance equation.Moderate
Related findings · Energy balance
- Achieving a total body weight loss of 10-15% (or >10-15 kg) through Total Diet Replacement (TDR) induces remission of Type 2 Diabetes in individuals with short-duration disease.Strong
- Bariatric surgery is superior to medical management alone for inducing significant long-term weight loss, remission of type 2 diabetes, and reduction in mortality for patients with BMI ≥ 40 or ≥ 35 with comorbidities.Strong
- Achieving type 2 diabetes remission requires significant weight loss (≥15 kg) via major caloric restriction, independent of macronutrient composition.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →