Dynamic Energy Balance: An Integrated Framework for Discussing Diet and Physical Activity in Obesity Prevention—Is it More than Eating Less and Exercising More?

Abstract

Understanding the dynamic nature of energy balance, and the interrelated and synergistic roles of diet and physical activity (PA) on body weight, will enable nutrition educators to be more effective in implementing obesity prevention education. Although most educators recognize that diet and PA are important for weight management, they may not fully understand their impact on energy flux and how diet alters energy expenditure and energy expenditure alters diet. Many nutrition educators have little training in exercise science; thus, they may not have the knowledge essential to understanding the benefits of PA for health or weight management beyond burning calories. This paper highlights the importance of advancing nutrition educators’ understanding about PA, and its synergistic role with diet, and the value of incorporating a dynamic energy balance approach into obesity-prevention programs. Five key points are highlighted: (1) the concept of dynamic vs. static energy balance; (2) the role of PA in weight management; (3) the role of PA in appetite regulation; (4) the concept of energy flux; and (5) the integration of dynamic energy balance into obesity prevention programs. The rationale for the importance of understanding the physiological relationship between PA and diet for effective obesity prevention programming is also reviewed.

Modelling multiple health behavior change with network analyses: results from a one-year study conducted among overweight and obese adults

“…It is possible that the physical activity measure was compromised due to social desirability (as well as the other behavioral outcomes). More research is needed to better understand the complex, and inherent, relationships between energy expenditure and food intake among individuals with obesity (Manore, Larson-Meyer, Lindsay, Hongu, & Houtkooper, 2017).…”

The Role of Nutrition in the Prevention and Intervention of Type 2 Diabetes

“…Globalization results in altered dietary and lifestyle habits (Malik et al, 2013), such as taking more high-fat or high-carbohydrate foods and sedentary lifestyles with low energy expenditure (Zimmet et al, 2001). Diets induce multiple metabolic processes and modify the metabolism homeostasis of the organism (Manore et al, 2017). Therefore, unhealthy dietary habits such as Western diet have been one of the most important drivers of glucose metabolism disorder that leads to diabetes finally (Rico-Campa et al, 2019).…”

The Association between US Adolescents’ Weight Status, Weight Perception, Weight Satisfaction, and Their Physical Activity and Dietary Behaviors

“…This high prevalence of obesity and its associated short- and long-term health risks [ 1 , 2 ] make addressing obesity in this population a public health priority. Obesity among adolescents is often attributed to inadequate physical activity (PA) and a poor diet [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ], and obesity prevention efforts often focus on increasing PA and promoting healthy diets to promote energy balance [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. However, most available studies examining the relationships between lifestyle behaviors and obesity among adolescents focus on either PA or dietary behaviors [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ].…”