Overview

• The PNAS overview study by Duke University analyzed BMI, body fat, and energy expenditure in 4,213 individuals across 34 populations on six continents.
• Findings indicate that increased caloric intake contributes about ten times more to obesity rates than reduced physical activity.
• Despite higher energy expenditures, populations in industrialized nations exhibit greater body fat linked to widespread consumption of ultra-processed foods.
• Researchers lacked detailed dietary records but highlight low-cost processed products as primary drivers of excessive calorie intake.
• With two-thirds of men and over half of women in Germany overweight, health experts call for dietary interventions to curb the epidemic.