Physical Inactivity is Not a Human Quality — Even in Modern Society
Exploring the “exercise paradox” in primate evolution
It’s easy to subscribe to the idea that whatever was once good for our ancestors is still good for us. When it comes to our lifestyle choices today, there is an overarching pretence that humans, like most other animals, are naturally lazy. However, modern society is propelling a logic that we have got the wrong way round. The further we delve into the science, the clearer it becomes that physical activity should not merely be treated as a way to counteract our sedentary lifestyle, but rather, that we are biologically designed to require exercise. And despite all the evidence suggesting that we should be moving in the other direction, our society continues to favour a physically inactive culture.
In a recent publication in Scientific American, Dr Herman Pontzer, an evolutionary anthropologist at Duke University, highlights that “unlike our ape cousins, humans require high levels of physical activity to be healthy.” This certainly shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. More and more research is confirming that exercise is beneficial to virtually all of the underlying molecular processes performed by our cells. In turn, exercise leads to improvements in cardiovascular, respiratory and metabolic health; enhanced…
