Research
Energy balance
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.
Consider secondary factors like sleep quality and exposure to endocrine disruptors. While food and activity are primary, improving sleep hygiene and reducing unnecessary medication/chemical exposure may support weight management.
ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
They propose that poor sleep hygiene and decreased cigarette smoking can both push the energy balance toward a surplus of energy. Similarly, environmental factors, such as increased atmospheric levels of CO2, living in thermoneutrality most of the year, spending countless hours in front of electronic screens, being exposed to chemicals known to disrupt endocrine functions, and increased consumption of medications, can all tip the energy balance equation in an unhealthy direction.
Why this rating
Based on a perspective/review by Davis et al., 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
- 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.Moderate
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