October 04, 2025

Food, Not Lack of Exercise, Fuels Obesity

8 minutes

Obesity is not caused by lack of exercise, as people in wealthier nations burn more calories daily yet still gain more fat
Eating ultraprocessed foods is strongly linked to higher body fat because they disrupt hunger signals and make calories easier to store
Body fat percentage, not BMI, is the most accurate way to measure obesity and related health risks
Modern ultraprocessed diets and lower immune demands in industrialized countries lower resting energy needs, making fat storage more likely
You can restore your metabolism by removing vegetable oils, eating the right carbs for your gut health, reducing estrogen and EMF exposure, and avoiding ultraprocessed foods

...more

By Dr. Mercola

4.6

14801,480 ratings

October 04, 2025

8 minutes

Obesity is not caused by lack of exercise, as people in wealthier nations burn more calories daily yet still gain more fat
Eating ultraprocessed foods is strongly linked to higher body fat because they disrupt hunger signals and make calories easier to store
Body fat percentage, not BMI, is the most accurate way to measure obesity and related health risks
Modern ultraprocessed diets and lower immune demands in industrialized countries lower resting energy needs, making fat storage more likely
You can restore your metabolism by removing vegetable oils, eating the right carbs for your gut health, reducing estrogen and EMF exposure, and avoiding ultraprocessed foods

...more