Energy balance
Urbanization-driven reductions in physical activity (PAL) of 400-800 kcal/day are the primary driver of population-level obesity, outweighing individual behavioral choices.
Focus on environmental changes rather than just individual willpower. If you live in an urban area, recognize that your daily energy expenditure is likely significantly lower than previous generations due to transport and work changes. Compensate by consciously increasing physical activity or adjusting food intake to match this new baseline.
Thus, energy demands may have dropped with additional TV/media, mechanization and computerized changes by 400–800 kcal d-1, so weight gain and obesity are inevitable for most or all the population.
Why this rating
The paper is a narrative review citing observational data and theoretical calculations rather than a controlled trial.
Source
The fundamental drivers of the obesity epidemic
W. P. T. James · Obesity Reviews · 2008
DOI 10.1111/j.1467-789x.2007.00432.x
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