US EditionNew study links obesity to diet, not lack of exercise
UNITED STATES, JUL 16 – Researchers analyzed data from 4,213 adults across 34 populations and found diet, especially ultra-processed foods, drives obesity more than physical activity, accounting for most weight gain.
- On July 16, 2025, a study was released in a prestigious scientific journal examining the factors contributing to obesity across 34 populations worldwide.
- The study arose from rising obesity rates, especially in industrialized countries where total energy expenditure explains only about 10% of obesity's increase.
- Examining 4,213 adults aged 18 to 60, researchers found that calorie intake, especially from ultra-processed foods, drives obesity more than physical activity levels.
- Herman Pontzer, the study’s lead author, emphasized that consuming too many calories plays a central role in driving obesity in developed countries, particularly due to processed foods interfering with feelings of fullness and encouraging excess eating.
- The study implies that reducing calories from ultra-processed foods may be the most effective strategy to combat the global obesity epidemic.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Rising Obesity in D.C., Worldwide Tied to Food Intake
An extensive study found that increased calorie intake, not decreased energy expenditure, is the primary factor contributing to rising obesity rates in economically developed societies, with ultra processed foods playing a central role in the modern obesity crisis. The post Rising Obesity in D.C., Worldwide Tied to Food Intake appeared first on The Washington Informer.
The role of ultra-processed food in obesity
The global increase in obesity has occurred in parallel to a dietary shift from traditional staple foods to ultra-processed foods (UPF), spurring scientific interest in UPF as a driver of the obesity pandemic. Herein, we summarize the current evidence regarding the role of UPF in obesity, with a specific focus on potential biological mechanisms. The literature strongly supports and corroborates ecological, epidemiological and mechanistic lines o…
der Standard AT
der Standard DEA new study shows that excessive energy supply for the modern obesity epidemic is about ten times as important as energy consumption.
The Independent
The Independent (US)Obesity is caused more by diet than lack of exercise, new research shows
New study links obesity to diet, not lack of exercise
For decades, conventional wisdom has blamed obesity on inactivity. But a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) challenges that narrative, arguing that what’s on your plate plays a much bigger role than your step count. The findings suggest that while movement is still important for health, calorie intake and food quality have a significantly greater impact on obesity rat…
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