Table 3.
Summary of the types of evidence supporting each putative contributor. Only studies with weight gain or obesity as a direct endpoint are counted in each category of evidence.
| Basic In Vitro Evidence | Animal Evidence | Ecological Correlation Evidence | Epidemiological Evidence | Experimental Evidence in Humans | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infections | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ | - |
| Epigenetics | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ | - |
| Maternal Age | - | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - |
| Assortative Mating | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | - |
| Reproductive Fitness | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | - |
| Sleep Debt | - | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - |
| Endocrine Disruptors | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - |
| Pharmaceutical Iatrogenesis | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ambient Temperature | - | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - |
| Intrauterine and Intergenerational Effects | - | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - |