Energy balance
High levels of daily physical activity in hunter-gatherer populations do not result in higher total energy expenditure (TEE) compared to industrialized populations, as the body compensates by reducing non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) and resting metabolic rate (RMR).
Do not rely on exercise alone to create a massive caloric deficit, as your body may compensate by lowering its resting metabolic rate. Focus on dietary quality and portion control, as high activity levels alone may not increase total energy expenditure significantly enough to drive weight loss if diet is not managed.
Remarkably, despite high levels of physical activity, total energy expenditures (TEE) (kcal d-1) are not necessarily elevated in small-scale societies compared with industrialized populations... The similarity in TEE, AEE and PAL suggests that the body adjusts to variation in physical activity to maintain TEE within a narrow physiological range.
Why this rating
Based on doubly labeled water studies and large cohort data from multiple small-scale societies (Hadza, Tsimane, etc.) compared to industrialized cohorts.
Source
Hunter‐gatherers as models in public health
Herman Pontzer et al. · Obesity Reviews · 2018
DOI 10.1111/obr.12785
More from this paper
- Hunter-gatherer populations exhibit very low prevalence of obesity and metabolic diseases (such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension) despite high physical activity levels, suggesting that lifestyle factors beyond simple energy balance (e.g., diet composition, pathogen load) are critical for metabolic health.Good
- Hunter-gatherer diets are not invariably low-carbohydrate; many populations consume diets rich in carbohydrates and simple sugars (e.g., from honey and tubers) while maintaining excellent metabolic health.Good
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