We are programmed to be lazy

To understand the conflict between our good intentions and our contrary impulses, we can look at the dual process model. Our behavior are divided into two categories:

• The rational mechanisms, managed by the reflective system.
• The emotional mechanisms, managed by the impulsive system.

The impulsive system can facilitate or prevent the reflective system from putting our intentions into place.

The attraction toward sedentary can be viewed in light of evolution. When it was challenging to gain access to food, minimizing effort allowed for the saving of energy that was crucial for survival.

This tendency could explain the current pandemic of physical inactivity since genes allowing individuals to survive are likely to be present in the next generation.