We often are told that the obesity epidemic sweeping the richer countries is caused by poor diet coupled with a sedentary lifestyle. In other words, if we eat better and take more exercise we will fight obesity.

According to one study, which looked at rural Nigerian women and African American women from Chicago, the amount of exercise performed makes no difference to obesity levels.

Researchers had expected to find that the slimmer Nigerian Women (average weight just over 9 st) would be more physically active than the Chicago group (average weight just over 13 st). However, their was no significant difference.

They found that both groups ate more as they burned more.  While the Africans would fill themselves up on high fibre and carbohydrate diet, the American counterparts would have a much more fatty diet.

This suggests according to the study, that  diet is paramount in the fight against obesity to a greater extent than exercise.

Compare this with the story later in this newsletter regarding the UK’s Change4Life Campaign.

http://www.livescience.com/health/090106-exercise-obesity.html