Energy balance
A 45-year decline in household management energy expenditure (HMEE) in women, driven by automation and increased workforce participation, has contributed to the rise in obesity by creating a chronic positive energy balance that is not fully offset by increases in leisure-time physical activity.
Recognize that modern conveniences (dishwashers, microwaves, pre-packaged foods) and increased workforce participation have significantly reduced your daily energy expenditure, even if you don't feel 'active.' To maintain weight, you cannot rely on housework alone; you must intentionally incorporate physical activity into your routine, as leisure-time exercise has not historically compensated for these losses.
From 1965 to 2010, there was a large and significant decrease in the time allocated to HM... The reallocation of time from active pursuits (i.e., housework) to sedentary pastimes (e.g., watching TV) has important health consequences. These results suggest that the decrement in HMEE may have contributed to the increasing prevalence of obesity in women during the last five decades.
Why this rating
Observational ecological study using time-use diaries and MET estimates; prone to self-report bias and estimation errors, but large sample size and long duration.
Source
45-Year Trends in Women’s Use of Time and Household Management Energy Expenditure
Edward Archer et al. · PLoS ONE · 2013
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0056620
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