The REAL Reason Americans are Getting “Fatter”

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted July 23, 2025

You’ve heard it a thousand times: “Americans are getting fatter because we’re lazy.”

We sit at desks all day. We binge-watch Netflix instead of hitting the gym. We’ve traded physical labor for sedentary lifestyles.

It’s a tidy explanation for why obesity has skyrocketed in developed countries.

There’s just one problem—it’s completely wrong…

A groundbreaking Duke University study of over 4,000 people across 34 populations worldwide—from Tanzanian hunter-gatherers to Norwegian office workers—just shattered the “lazy and fat” myth once and for all.

The shocking truth? Americans burn more calories daily than those living traditional lifestyles in developing countries.

So why are we still getting fatter?

For decades, we’ve been told that declining physical activity is the main driver of obesity. It seems logical, right?

But when researchers used the gold standard method for measuring daily energy expenditure—tracking how the body processes isotopes over weeks—they discovered something that turned conventional wisdom on its head.

People in wealthier, more industrialized countries didn’t just move as much as those in traditional societies. They actually burned more calories per day.

Even after adjusting for body size and muscle mass, the data showed obesity isn’t about moving less.

If it’s not lack of exercise, then what’s driving the obesity epidemic?

The answer lies not in how much we move, but in what we eat.

The study found that people in countries with higher rates of obesity had one thing in common: they ate significantly more ultra-processed foods.

These aren’t just “junk foods”—they’re industrial Frankenfoods loaded with additives, preservatives, and ingredients you can’t pronounce. Think sugary drinks, packaged snacks, frozen meals, and fast food.

These foods are engineered for easier digestion—so your body absorbs more calories with less effort. In other words, less energy is lost during digestion, so more gets stored as fat.

Even worse? foods can interfere with your body’s natural hunger signals, causing you to eat overeat.

This isn’t just another diet study—it’s a full-blown paradigm shift.

For years, public health campaigns have pushed the “eat less, move more” message. But if people in developed countries are already burning more calories than their counterparts in traditional societies, telling them to exercise more misses the point entirely.

The real problem isn’t that we’re not moving enough. It’s that we’re eating foods that are literally designed to make us overeat and store fat.

The good news? You don’t need to join a gym or run a marathon to fight back against the obesity epidemic.

You need to change what’s on your plate:

• Read ingredient lists like your health depends on it—because it does. If you can’t pronounce it or don’t recognize it, your body probably doesn’t either.
• Shop the outer edges of the grocery store—that’s where the real food lives. Fruits, vegetables, fresh meats, and dairy products don’t come with ingredient lists.
• Cook more meals at home—when you control the ingredients, you control your health. Even simple meals beat ultra-processed alternatives.
• Drink water, not liquid calories—sugary drinks are among the worst ultra-processed culprits, delivering massive calorie bombs with zero satisfaction.

Don’t get me wrong—exercise is still crucial for your overall health. But when it comes to weight management, the battle is often won or lost in your kitchen, not the gym.

The obesity epidemic isn’t about willpower or laziness. It’s about an industrialized food system that profits from keeping you hungry, overfed, and coming back for more.

Now that you know the truth, you can finally fight back where it actually matters.

P.S. BMI is bogus—here’s what really predicts health.

Source:

McGrosky, A., Luke, A., Arab, L., Bonomi, A. G., Bovet, P., Brage, S., Buchowski, M. S., Butte, N., Camps, S. G., Casper, R., Cummings, D. K., Krupa Das, S., Deb, S., Dugas, L. R., Ekelund, U., Forrester, T., Fudge, B. W., Gillingham, M., Goris, A. H., . . .  Willett, W. C. (2025). Energy expenditure and obesity across the economic spectrum. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 122(29), e2420902122.

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

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