Evolutionary Perspectives of Physical Activity: Comparative Analysis of BaYaka Hunter-Gatherers, The United States and Other Subsistence Populations

The overarching aim is to explore physical activity from an evolutionary standpoint. The research draws largely from life history theory, and is largely situated in the fields of evolutionary medicine and behavioural ecology. The thesis will be structured around a layering of scales of comparison. Starting with the BaYaka hunter-gatherers, within group variation in physical activity is explored. Expanding on this groups engaged in similar modes of subsistence but in varying ecologies with be compared. Finally, the comparison will expand to cross-cultural comparisons between hunter-gatherers and populations in developed nations, namely a cross-sectional sample of US residents.