Scientists have long speculated that people have a “set point” for weight that’s tough to change. Now researchers think we may have an exercise set point as well, which compensates for extra movement by making us lazy later on.
The Times Well blog reports on a study of 8-10-year-olds at English schools with different PE requirements. The kids at the school with the strictest requirements spent 65% more time exercising during the schoolday than kids at other institutions — but when researchers looked at activity levels across the whole day, they actually evened out. Basically, the kids who moved around a lot at school were lazier when they got home. Or, as study author Terence J. Wilkin says, “activity at one time is met with less activity at another.”