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Higher economic development in a country is associated with higher rates of obesity and related health problems. Recently published research from Loyola University Chicago’s Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health is challenging the conventional wisdom on why.
It’s likely about energy in, not energy out
Led by Amy Luke, department chair and professor of public health sciences, and Lara Dugas, AXA Chair in Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology also a professor of public health sciences, the study found that obesity in high-income countries is likely not due to lower levels of physical activity than in other economies Instead, their findings suggest that higher obesity rates are more likely tied to higher calorie intake.
“While, we were unable to investigate the individual dietary components at a person-level, we were able to explore total calorie intake at a very high-level,” Luke said. “Our study focused on the total amount of calories expended each data through energy expenditure, including physical activity energy expenditure. While the causes of obesity are complicated and multifactorial, ultimately weight gain results from either higher energy in or decreased energy out, if there is no difference in the energy out then the difference must be in the energy in.”
Their findings were a result of studying more than 4,000 adults from 34 populations, with lifestyles ranging from hunter-gathers to farmers to sedentary office workers.
What is the potential impact of these findings?
Their findings were published in PNAS, the flagship peer-reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences and an authoritative source of high-impact, original research from researchers worldwide.
The research could have major implications on public health policy, as it suggests shifting obesity prevention efforts from the current focus on exercise to focusing on both diet and exercise.
Read more stories from the Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health.
Contact the researchers:
Lara Dugas
AXA Chair Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology, and Professor, Public Health Sciences
ldugas@luc.edu
Amy Luke
Department Chair and Professor, Public Health Sciences
aluke@luc.edu
