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Myths

  1. Obesity is only the result of eating more and moving less1
  2. Diet and exercise alone are sufficient for weight loss2
  3. Obesity is a result of laziness and indiscipline3
  4. Effective weight loss is all about reducing calories4,5
  5. Exercising is a better alternative than healthy diet for weight loss6
  6. Rapid weight loss has no harmful effects on health7
  7. Children cannot suffer from obesity8,9
  8. The lower the calorie intake, the healthier the body10
  9. Obesity is a lifestyle disorder11
  10. One cannot get rid of obesity that runs within the family12
  11. Diet has a small role in weight management13
  12. Genes have no role in determining weight14-16
  13. Obesity has no effect on the immune system17
  14. Fad diets can help manage weight effectively18
  15. Obesity can also be managed with short-term treatments19
  16. Only adults can suffer from obesity33
  17. Obesity is mainly caused by poor lifestyle choices2
  18. Weight loss is completely in my hands20
  19. Obesity is about willpower, not biology2
  20. To reduce weight and maintain it, just eat less and move more21
  21. Obesity does not impact health22
  22. Lack of physical activity primarily causes obesity23
  23. Extreme diets are helpful in the long-term24
  24. Exercising is better than eating healthy for weight loss25
  25. Willpower is enough to manage weight26

Facts

  1. Obesity is a medically recognized disease1
  2. Sleep, hormones, and stress can contribute to obesity2
  3. Diet is just one part of the weight loss equation6
  4. Obesity management may require medical treatment35
  5. Obesity can run in the family14-16
  6. Diets frequently lead to weight regain once they are stopped36
  7. If done unsupervised, weight loss diets can in fact make us more hungry37
  8. Unhealthy weight loss may be associated with psychological stress28
  9. Obesity can lead to diabetes11
  10. Children suffering from obesity may not outgrow it38
  11. Fad diets are unhealthy in the long run24
  12. Weight loss of even 5-10% can result in improved health outcomes29
  13. Adults living with obesity are at greater risk of becoming severely ill from COVID-1930
  14. Over 135 million individuals in India live with obesity31
  15. The prevalence of overweight and obesity is expected to increase considerably in India by 204032
  16. Obesity can weaken the immune system33
  17. Obesity is a chronic disease that may require life-long treatment19
  18. Stress can lead to weight gain2
  19. Weight gain can cause stress2
  20. Working out for at least 150 minutes a week is beneficial for weight management21
  21. >5% weight loss can improve metabolic parameters29
  22. Obesity can cause cardiovascular and respiratory distress22
  23. Certain medications may cause weight gain as a side effect26
  24. Genetic factors can influence your weight26
  25. Diet can influence your weight in significant ways13

References

  1. Rosen H. Is obesity a disease or a behavior abnormality? Did the AMA get it right? Mo Med. 2014;111(2):104.
  2. Chaput JP, Ferraro ZM, Prud’homme D, et al. Widespread misconceptions about obesity. Can Fam Physician. 2014;60(11):973-5, 981-4.
  3. Beeken RJ, Wardle J. Public beliefs about the causes of obesity and attitudes towards policy initiatives in Great Britain. Public Health Nutr. 2013;16(12):2132–2137.
  4. Everyday Health. The 7 Biggest Myths About Calories [Internet] [cited 2021 Nov 19]. Available from: https://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/biggest-myths-about-calories/
  5. Benton D, Young HA. Reducing calorie intake may not help you lose body weight. Perspect Psychol Sci. 2017;12:703–714.
  6. Niemiro GM, Rewane A, Algotar AM. Exercise and Fitness Effect On Obesity. 2021 Jun 8. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan. PMID: 30969715.
  7. Ashtary-Larky D, Ghanavati M, Lamuchi-Deli N, et al. Rapid Weight Loss vs. Slow Weight Loss: Which is More Effective on Body Composition and Metabolic Risk Factors? Int J Endocrinol Metab. 2017; 15:e13249.
  8. Lee JM, Lim S, Zoellner J, et al. Don’t children grow out of their obesity? Weight transitions in early childhood. Clin Pediatr. 2010;49(5):466-9.
  9. Hruby A, Hu FB. The epidemiology of obesity: a big picture. Pharmacoeconomics. 2015;33(7):673-89.
  10. Benton D, Young HA. Reducing calorie intake may not help you lose body weight. Perspect Psychol Sci. 2017;12(5):703–714
  11. Chobot A, Górowska‐Kowolik K, Sokołowska M, et al. Obesity and diabetes—not only a simple link between two epidemics. Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 2018;34(7):e3042.
  12. Goodarzi MO. Genetics of obesity: what genetic association studies have taught us about the biology of obesity and its complications. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2018;6(3):223-36.
  13. Bray GA, Frühbeck G, Ryan DH, et al. Management of obesity. The Lancet. 2016;387:1947-56.
  14. Farooqi S. Obesity: from genes to behaviour. Endocrinology. 2014;171:R191-5.
  15. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Behavior, environment, and genetic factors all have a role in causing people to be overweight and obese [Internet] [cited 2021 Nov 18]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/resources/diseases/obesity/index.htm
  16. Sorensen TI, Stunkard AJ. Does obesity run in families because of genes? An adoption study using silhouettes as a measure of obesity. Acta Psychiatr Scand Suppl. 1993;370:67-72.
  17. de Frel DL, Atsma DE, Pijl H, et al. The impact of obesity and lifestyle on the immune system and susceptibility to infections such as COVID-19. Front Nutr. 2020;7:279.
  18. Medical News Today. Medical myths: All about weight loss [Internet] [cited 2021 Nov 19]. Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/medical-myths-all-about-weight-loss#10.-You-can-target-fat-in-specific-areas
  19. Mauro M, Taylor V, Wharton S, et al. Barriers to obesity treatment. Eur J Intern Med. 2008;19(3):173-80.
  20. 6 Myths and Facts About Weight Loss. [Internet] [cited 2021 Nov 19]. Available from: https://www.practo.com/healthfeed/6-myths-and-facts-about-weight-loss-153/post
  21. 10 weight loss myths. [Internet] [cited 2021 Nov 19]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/ten-weight-loss-myths/
  22. Zammit C, Liddicoat H, Moonsie I, et al. Obesity and respiratory diseases. Int J Gen Med. 2010;3:335-43.
  23. Causes/Obesity. [Internet] [cited 2021 Nov 19]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/obesity/causes/
  24. Joshi S, Mohan V. Pros & cons of some popular extreme weight-loss diets. Indian J Med Res. 2018;148:642-647.
  25. Cox CE. Role of Physical Activity for Weight Loss and Weight Maintenance. Diabetes Spectr. 2017;30:157-160.
  26. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Other Factors in Weight Gain [Internet] [cited 2021 Nov 18]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/calories/other_factors.html
  27. 10 weight loss myths-Healthy weight. [Internet] [cited 2021 Nov 18]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/ten-weight-loss-myths/
  28. Booth AO, Wang X, Turner AI, et al. Diet-Induced Weight Loss Has No Effect on Psychological Stress in Overweight and Obese Adults: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. 2018;10: 613.
  29. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Healthy Weight, Nutrition, and Physical Activity. [Internet] 2020 Aug 17. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/losing_weight/index.html#:~:text=Even%20modest%20weight%20loss%20can,blood%20cholesterol%2C%20and%20blood%20sugars.&text=These%20habits%20may%20help%20you%20maintain%20your%20weight%20loss%20over%20time
  30. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People with Certain Medical Conditions. [Internet] [cited 2021 Nov 18]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html
  31. Lee J, Lim S, Zoellner J, et al. Don’t Children Grow Out of Their Obesity? Weight Transitions in Early Childhood. Clin Pediatr. 2010;49:466-469.
  32. Luhar S, Timæus IM, Jones R, et al. Forecasting the prevalence of overweight and obesity in India to 2040. PLoS One. 2020;15:e0229438.
  33. Andersen CJ, Murphy KE, Fernandez ML. Impact of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome on Immunity. Adv Nutr. 2016;7:66–
  34. Bray GA. Medical treatment of obesity: the past, the present and the future. Best practice & research Clinical gastroenterology. 2014 Aug 1;28(4):665-84.
  35. Vink RG, Roumans NJ, Arkenbosch LA, Mariman EC, van Baak MA. The effect of rate of weight loss on long‐term weight regain in adults with overweight and obesity. Obesity. 2016 Feb;24(2):321-7.
  36. Vink RG, Roumans NJ, Arkenbosch LA, Mariman EC, van Baak MA. The effect of rate of weight loss on long‐term weight regain in adults with overweight and obesity. Obesity. 2016 Feb;24(2):321-7.
  37. Lee JM, Lim S, Zoellner J, Burt BA, Sandretto AM, Sohn W, Ismail AI. Don’t children grow out of their obesity? Weight transitions in early childhood. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2010 May;49(5):466-9.