Popular belief that the main cause of obesity is insufficient physical activity, has undergone a serious review. The Amanda Macgrosky International Research Group from Duke University (USA) has established that a key factor in global body weight gain is not a motion, but the consumption of high -calorie, ultra -treated food.
The research published in the authoritative scientific journal of PNAS has covered more than 4,200 people from 34 different populations on six continents-from the tribes of gathering hunters to residents of metropolitan areas. Indicators such as general and basal energy costs, body mass index and fat level in the body were studied.
At first glance, the data confirmed a well -established opinion: residents of economically developed countries had higher body weight and higher fat levels. However, after correction for the age, gender and type of body, it turned out that they are physically active, no less, and even more than representatives of traditional societies.
Total energy costs have almost no effect on the risk of obesity - in only 10% of cases they correlate with fat accumulation. This result refutes the popular idea that "everything is solved by the gym".
Instead, experts call excessive consumption of ultra -processed foods - foods rich in sugar, salt, fats, flavors and other flavor enhancers. Such products violate natural signals, provoking chronic overeating. In addition, technological processing makes food easily digestible and energy "dense", which is why excess calories are easily accumulated.
" Modern food changes our appetites, work against saturation signals and promotes obesity even at a normal level of physical activity ," - said the authors of the study.
Physical activity, despite its benefits for the heart, blood vessels, psyche and metabolism, is not able to restrain the obesity epidemic independently if people continue to feed on fast food, carbonated drinks and semi -finished products.
Researchers urge governments and society:
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regulate the sale of sweet drinks;
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mark the degree of processing of products;
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restrict advertising unhealthy food;
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Provide access to natural food, especially for vulnerable segments of the population.
The problem of obesity is not only in a sitting lifestyle, but in an aggressive food industry that makes us eat more than necessary. In order to effectively combat the overweight epidemic, you need to change not only the habits, but also the system itself.
