Myths, misconceptions about weight loss

There are lots of weight loss advice on the internet; unproven or proven not to work. And many of these are from myths and unproven theories passed down across generations which are now perceived as the truth.

On issues relating to weight loss, the lines between fact and fiction are blurred but it is important to be able to recognize fact from fiction to be able to make healthy changes.

Below are some misconceptions and myths about weight loss:

Eating breakfast is necessary to lose weight: it is said that breakfast skippers tend to weigh more than breakfast eaters but this is probably because people who eat breakfast are more likely to have other healthy lifestyle habits. A four-month study in 309 adults compared breakfast habits and found no effect on weight whether the participants ate or skipped breakfast.

It’s also a myth that breakfast boosts metabolism and that eating multiple small meals makes you burn more calories throughout the day. Rather, it’s best to eat when you are hungry and stop when you’re full. Eat breakfast if you want to, but don’t expect it to have a major effect on your weight.

Fast food is always fattening: Not all fast food is unhealthy because due to people’s increased health consciousness, many fast food chains have started offering healthier options. It’s possible to get something relatively healthy at most restaurants. Most cheap fast food restaurants often provide healthier alternatives to their main offerings.

These foods may not satisfy the demands of every health-conscious individual, but they’re still a decent choice if you don’t have the time or energy to cook a healthy meal.

Weight loss diets work: The weight loss industry wants you to believe that diets work. However, studies show that dieting rarely works in the long-term. It is said that 85 percent of dieters end up gaining the weight back within a year. Additionally, studies indicate that people who diet are most likely to gain weight in the future. Consequently, dieting is a consistent predictor of future weight gain, not loss

People with obesity are unhealthy and thin people are healthy: It is true that obesity increases your risk of several chronic illnesses including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some type of cancers but plenty of people with obesity are metabolically healthy while plenty of thin people have these same chronic diseases

Supplements can help you lose weight: The weight loss supplement industry is massive. There are many claims that their supplements have dramatic effects, but they are rarely very effective when studied. People fall for the marketing tactics and want the supplements to help them lose weight, so they become more conscious of what they eat. A few supplements have a modest effect on weight loss.

Obesity is about willpower, not biology: It is inaccurate to say that your weight is all about willpower. Obesity is a very complex disorder with myriad of contributing factors. Numerous genetic variables are associated with obesity and various medical conditions, such as hypothyroidism, PCOS, and depression, can increase your risk of weight gain. Trying to exert willpower and consciously eating less in the face of the leptin-driven starvation signal is incredibly difficult.

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