Energy balance

Increasing physical activity has only a weak association with preventing future weight gain in observational studies, and clinical trials provide uncertain conclusions on whether increasing activity effectively prevents obesity de novo.

Current evidence suggests that while physical activity is recommended for general health, relying on it alone to prevent obesity is uncertain due to weak associations and measurement errors in studies. Public health advice remains to advocate for 45-60 minutes of moderate intensity activity daily, but expectations for significant weight prevention should be managed.