Exercise and Obesity: Reduced physical activity is a major cause of obesity.

IV. Exercise and Obesity

The opposite of excessive calorie intake is insufficient calorie consumption, which is also an important reason for the imbalance of energy metabolism and thus obesity.

If the heat energy consumption is too low, the only factors that can be controlled subjectively are exercise and physical activity.

Insufficient exercise and physical activity lead to a "receive-more-expenditure" of body heat, and the excess heat accumulates, causing obesity.

The development of science and technology, and the widespread adoption of mechanization and electrification, have brought about significant changes in the human living environment.

In the mid-19th century, 96% of all power used for production and daily life on Earth came from the muscles of humans and livestock, while only 4% came from waterwheels, windmills, and a very small number of steam engines.

By the 1970s, "muscle power" accounted for only 1% of total movement in humans and livestock. Not to mention the mechanization of labor operations for workers and farmers, even daily tasks like washing clothes and cooking were replaced by machines.

Fast and convenient transportation, comfortable and convenient living conditions, complete living facilities, a full range of household appliances, and the availability of ready-made and semi-finished food products have led people to gradually experience the bitterness of "muscle hunger," resulting in an increasing number of obese people.

In daily life, we can see that thin people are often more lively, active, and diligent than fat people.

Some overweight people complain that they exercise every day but are still overweight.

In fact, it should be pointed out that exercise is not the only way to consume energy; many factors in life affect energy consumption.

An American sports medicine expert once compared the daily activities of two groups of people, one obese and one of normal weight. The comparison included three aspects: ① the length of time they sat; ② the length of time they stood; ③ the amount of time they spent active.

The comparative survey results showed that obese people spend 17% more time sitting, 15% less time standing, and 35% less time active each day than people of normal weight.

Someone compared the daily energy consumption of two boys with similar height and weight.

The two boys in the table have similar daily routines such as studying and sleeping, and their energy consumption is not much different. However, A consumes 1686 and 1985 kilojoules of energy each day through physical exercise and walking to and from school, respectively. During breaks, A engages in physical activities and sits upright while reading.

B spends most of the time watching TV while half-lying down.

Their daily energy expenditure differs by approximately 2395 kilojoules. Therefore, seeking opportunities for physical activity and adopting an active lifestyle in daily life is crucial for preventing obesity.

If, for some reason, an athlete stops training, an actor stops practicing, or reduces physical activity, their weight can increase rapidly, even exceeding their pre-training or pre-practice levels.

Some people gain weight due to reduced physical activity caused by hospitalization.

As people age, their physical activity decreases and their metabolic rate slows down, leading to a significant increase in the incidence of obesity.

These facts all indicate that reduced physical activity and energy expenditure can lead to obesity.

V. Social Factors and Obesity

Society bears undeniable responsibility for the occurrence of obesity.

Social development, industrial progress, inappropriate food policies and advertising, and social prejudice are all factors that contribute to obesity.

Improved cultural literacy, popularization of scientific knowledge, rational food policies, and the development of national fitness activities are social factors that inhibit obesity.

As the medical model changes, people's views on health and disease also change.

Humans cannot live apart from society, and the occurrence of diseases has sociological factors.

Ancient my country had the concept of "seven emotions" causing disease, which is actually an exploration of the causes of disease from the perspective of social factors, but it is limited to describing the impact of social factors on individual health.

Since the 19th century, the production society characterized by industrialization and urbanization has brought about a series of health problems, among which obesity is one.

The development of industry and the popularization of electrification have reduced people's daily physical exertion; the prosperity of the food industry has ensured a sufficient food supply; the agricultural technology revolution has made it easy for people to obtain large quantities of food; television and telephone are gradually changing people's lifestyles, and advertising and cultural erosion are also playing a powerful role.

As government departments, we should face up to the impact of social factors on obesity and reduce obesity through social forces to the lowest possible level. As obese individuals, we should distinguish between social factors that promote and inhibit obesity, control weight gain, and improve our quality of life.

(I) Social Development and Obesity

The primary manifestation of social development is industrial development. Due to social mechanization and electrification, people can achieve good work results with light physical labor, thus reducing people's physical activity. The development of agriculture has ensured a sufficient food supply. The rapid advancement of the food industry has given people the possibility to choose their favorite foods at will, promoting the opportunity for overeating. Labor consumption is gradually decreasing, while energy intake is increasing, making obesity inevitable.

Changes in lifestyle and daily routines also affect people's physical activity and eating opportunities. For example, the widespread use of television has played a significant role in the development of obesity.

With the widespread use of television, its influence on people's behavior is growing, and we are constantly encouraging ourselves to sit still, making society a sedentary society.

If you spend 2 to 3 hours a day sitting quietly in front of the TV, the energy you expend is much less than if you were doing housework, and you would gain 1.5 kilograms per year.

The development of the information society has promoted the popularization of telephones, and the popularization of telephones has made it possible to do many things without leaving home, simply by making a phone call.

In the same office building, or even on the same floor, it is now commonplace for different departments, sections, and offices to call each other.

Some organizations send notices to their subordinates, and sometimes walking or cycling is no slower than making a phone call, but they still use the phone. The result of this is that they save physical energy but gain weight.

Some statistics show that due to the widespread use of telephones, many people walk an average of 112 kilometers less per year, which means they burn 25,000 fewer calories. If someone gets a telephone at age 20, they will gain 18 to 22 kilograms by age 50.

While such calculations may seem somewhat mechanical, they demonstrate just how relentless slow and persistent weight gain can be.