Obese people ‘biologically driven to sit around more’

OBESE people are simply unable to get off their backsides, scientists said yesterday.

Researchers who studied every tiny movement of a group of volunteers, down to the smallest tap of a toe, found that overweight individuals sit around more than those who are lean. What is more, they cannot help it. Some people seem biologically driven to avoid unnecessary movement while others cannot keep still.

The findings emerged from a bizarre study in which volunteers wore special hi-tech underwear fitted with electronic sensors.