Obesity is caused more by diet than lack of exercise, new research shows

• A new study challenges the common belief that reduced physical activity is the primary cause of obesity.
• The research found that people in developed nations, despite being more sedentary, burn similar amounts of calories to those in less-developed nations with active lifestyles.
• The study, involving over 4,000 individuals from 34 countries, suggests that diet, particularly increased energy intake, is a far more significant factor in the global obesity crisis than inactivity.
• Experts concur that changes in food consumption, rather than activity levels, are the dominant drivers of obesity.
• While exercise remains crucial for overall health, the findings indicate that public health efforts to combat obesity should primarily focus on dietary improvements, especially regarding ultra-processed foods.

IN FULL

Being a couch potato has long been blamed for obesity - a new study has found the real cause