A number of studies have suggested that a sedentary lifestyle has led to an alarming increase in obesity in children, leading to a number of healthy issues, such as Type 2 diabetes, according to a recent article from the blog A Stir. However, new research says that a lack of activity is likely the result of obesity, not the cause.
A BBC study that followed 200 children in the U.K. over a period of 11 concluded that there was no indication that extra exercise had any impact on weight, but that kids who did put on weight did less exercise. It’s the classic chicken vs egg argument.
If physical activity isn’t the determinant, then diet and how much the children consume must be a more significant factor, according to the article. However, researchers says that the study should not be a license for fit children to become couch potatoes or obese children to avoid exercise.
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