Energy balance and obesity what are the main drivers?

• Published in: Cancer causes & control Vol. 28; no. 3; pp. 247 - 258
• Main Authors: Romieu, Isabelle, Dossus, Laure, Barquera, Simón, Blottière, Hervé M., Franks, Paul W., Gunter, Marc, Hwalla, Nahla, Hursting, Stephen D., Leitzmann, Michael, Margetts, Barrie, Nishida, Chizuru, Potischman, Nancy, Seidell, Jacob, Stepien, Magdalena, Wang, Youfa, Westerterp, Klaas, Winichagoon, Pattanee, Wiseman, Martin, Willett, Walter C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer Science + Business Media 01.03.2017; Springer International Publishing; Springer Nature B.V; Springer Verlag
• Subjects: Beverages; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cancer; Cancer Research; Clinical Medicine; Colon - microbiology; Developing Countries - statistics & numerical data; Diet; Endocrinology and Diabetes; Endokrinologi och diabetes; Energy; Energy balance; Energy expenditure; Energy Intake; Energy Metabolism; Epidemiology; Exercise; Feeding Behavior; Hematology; Humans; Income; Klinisk medicin; Life Sciences; Low income groups; Malnutrition; Malnutrition - epidemiology; Medical and Health Sciences; Medical research; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Microbiota - physiology; Nutrition research; Obesity; Obesity - epidemiology; Obesity - genetics; Obesity - microbiology; Oncology; ORIGINAL PAPER; Overweight; Public Health; Satiety; Weight control; Weight Gain; Working groups; United Kingdom > UK; France; United States > US; Energy intake; Energy expenditure; Satiety; Energy balance; Obesity; Diet
• ISSN: 0957-5243; 1573-7225; 1573-7225
• DOI: 10.1007/s10552-017-0869-z

Purpose The aim of this paper is to review the evidence of the association between energy balance and obesity. Methods In December 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France convened a Working Group of international experts to review the evidence regarding energy balance and obesity, with a focus on Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC). Results The global epidemic of obesity and the double burden, in LMICs, of malnutrition (coexistence of undernutrition and overnutrition) are both related to poor quality diet and unbalanced energy intake. Dietary patterns consistent with a traditional Mediterranean diet and other measures of diet quality can contribute to long-term weight control. Limiting consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages has a particularly important role in weight control. Genetic factors alone cannot explain the global epidemic of obesity. However, genetic, epigenetic factors and the microbiota could influence individual responses to diet and physical activity. Conclusion Energy intake that exceeds energy expenditure is the main driver of weight gain. The quality of the diet may exert its effect on energy balance through complex hormonal and neurological pathways that influence satiety and possibly through other mechanisms. The food environment, marketing of unhealthy foods and urbanization, and reduction in sedentary behaviors and physical activity play important roles. Most of the evidence comes from High Income Countries and more research is needed in LMICs.