Energy balance
Obese individuals exhibit a biologically determined posture allocation that results in significantly less standing and movement (NEAT) compared to lean individuals, leading to a daily energy expenditure deficit of approximately 350 kcal.
Focus on increasing non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) by standing more and sitting less. The study suggests that obese individuals sit ~2 hours more per day than lean individuals. Adopting the standing/movement habits of lean people could burn an extra ~350 calories daily, potentially leading to significant weight loss over a year without changing diet or starting formal exercise.
Obese individuals were seated, on average, 2 hours longer per day than lean individuals... if the obese subjects had the same posture allocation as the lean subjects, they would have expended an additional 352 ± 65 (TSD) (range, 269 to 477) calories (kcal) per day
Why this rating
Small sample size (n=20), short duration (10 days), and pilot nature acknowledged by authors, but methodology (accelerometers + doubly labeled water) is robust.
Source
Interindividual Variation in Posture Allocation: Possible Role in Human Obesity
James A. Levine et al. · Science · 2005
DOI 10.1126/science.1106561
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