Why Were We So Thin In The 70s (The Truth Will Surprise You)

In the 1970s, obesity prevalence was significantly lower across most industrialized nations. Photographs from that era—school portraits, beach scenes, family gatherings—consistently show bodies that appear leaner and more physically balanced.

This difference was not the result of superior willpower, better genetics, or widespread dieting. From a scientific standpoint, the primary explanation lies in environmental design and how daily life interacted with human physiology.

Human metabolism, appetite regulation, and energy balance are highly sensitive to surroundings. The environment of the 1970s unintentionally aligned with how the body evolved to function.
1. Continuous Low-Intensity Physical Activity (NEAT)

One of the most influential factors was non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT)—the calories burned through everyday movement rather than formal exercise.