From Wendy Bumgardner,
Your Guide to Walking.
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A vast majority of people in an April, 2004, Harris Interactive poll believe that lack of exercise is the biggest contributor to rising rates of obesity, versus 34% saying it is due to eating too much.

Are Adults in Denial That They Eat Too Much?

"We know that people consume more and more calories but only a third of the public see this as a major cause of obesity. These data suggest that many people are either in denial, or they are woefully ignorant, that most people just eat too much," says Humphrey Taylor, chairman of The Harris Poll(R) at Harris Interactive in a press release. USDA studies show that calorie consumption may have gone up an average of 340 calories per day from the 1980's through the 1990's, at the time when rates of obesity began to skyrocket.

Main Reasons People Believe Obesity Has Increased
The survey asked: "The number of people who are overweight and obese has been increasing rapidly. Which of these do you think are the major reasons why obesity has increased?"
Those replying could make three choices.
Total %
83% People do not exercise enough
38% People eat too much fast food
34% People consume too many calories
32% Food helpings are too big
31% People eat too much packaged and processed food
18% People eat and drink too much between meals
14% People eat too much fat
10% People drink too many sodas
8% People eat too many carbohydrates
1% None of these

Child Obesity - Inactivity Link

Half of U.S. adults (53%) think that child obesity is increasing due to not enough exercise rather than eating the wrong foods (36%) or eating too much (7%). Public health officials and pediatricians believe this to be true. Studies have shown that children who watch more TV than their peers and play more video games are more likely to be obese. In one study, as little as 8 more minutes a day of vigorous, active play reduced the risk of obesity in children.

Is Adult Lack of Exercise Really the Biggest Factor in Rising Obesity Rates?

The number of sedentary Americans appears to have been a constant 25% in the past 20 years, and those reporting leisure-time physical activities have also remained constant. There are theories that people are just moving a bit less each day, especially since the advent of home computers and the Internet, but studies are lacking. Without evidence, it's hard to pin rising obesity rates on people taking fewer steps each day.

Does More Exercise Offset High Calorie Diets?

There is evidence that some people can eat a high-calorie diet and balance it with activity to prevent becoming obese. Pedometer studies with Old Order Amish in Ontario showed that these farm folk easily logged over 10,000 steps per day doing their regular chores. Despite eating a diet high in calories, fat and carbohydrates, their incidence of overweight and obesity was very low. Other studies have claimed that adding as little as 2000 more steps a day on average can prevent future weight gain. Further studies have shown improvement in survival rates and health for people who exercise regularly but are obese, suggesting that exercise improves health even if the person who exercises continues to be overweight.

Shared Wisdom From Walkers

While increased physical activity can help prevent weight gain and improve weight loss, it is not the complete answer for all. Exercise alone will produce health benefits and reduce risk factors of major illnesses, including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. But losing weight once it is gained is easiest done with modification of diet as well as exercise. Weight loss is an equation - calories out must be more than calories in.

Exercise and Weight Loss Tools

How to Walk Off Weight
Walk of Life: Free 10 Week Walking and Weight Loss Program
Pedometer Walking Central