Myths about obesity and weight loss methods

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, working under the leadership of Dr. David Allison, say that it's time to destroy a number of popular myths about obesity. They refute 9 common myths and question 10 equally common assumptions that do not have convincing evidence. In the published article, they list arguments confirming or refuting the analyzed statements, and, if possible, provide the results of randomized controlled clinical trials.

Erroneous beliefs (myths):A rapid decrease in body weight predisposes more to a subsequent even greater (compared to the initial) weight gain than a slower weight loss.

2. Setting realistic goals for weight loss in the treatment of obesity is a very important point, because otherwise patients get upset and lose weight more slowly.
3. Assessment of the "phase of change" or "readiness" to follow a diet is very important when organizing assistance to patients seeking medical help in the hope of losing weight.
4. Physical education lessons (in the existing form) play an important role in reducing the prevalence of obesity in school-age children.
5. Breastfeeding prevents the development of obesity in the child in the future.
6. Daily self-weighing interferes with the process of losing weight.
7. Genes do not contribute to the obesity epidemic.
8. The first year of college is associated with or causes an increase in body weight by about 7 kg.
9. "Food deserts" (for example, regions that do not have at all or have limited access to shops selling fresh healthy food, including agricultural products) contribute to an increase in the incidence of obesity.

Assumptions or beliefs that do not have convincing scientific evidence:Regular consumption of breakfast (compared with giving it up) prevents the development of obesity.

2. Eating before going to bed contributes to weight gain.
3. Eating a large amount of vegetables and fruits contributes to weight loss or a less pronounced increase in it, regardless of the presence of changes deliberately made by a person in his lifestyle.
4. Cyclical changes in body weight (for example, due to periodic dieting and gaining initial or even more weight after giving it up - the so–called "yo-yo effect") increases the risk of mortality.
5. Snacking contributes to an increase in body weight and the development of obesity.
6. The development of the urban environment (for example, the accessibility of pedestrian paths and parks) affects the risk of obesity.
7. Reducing the time children spend watching TV reduces the incidence of childhood obesity.
8. Reducing the size of the portions served leads to a decrease in the amount of food consumed by people who did not have such intentions or prescriptions, even in the absence of restrictions in the general availability of food.
9. Participation in family meals reduces the risk of obesity.
10. Drinking a large amount of water reduces the amount of energy entering the body, which leads to weight loss or a decrease in the severity of its increase, regardless of the presence of changes deliberately made by a person in his lifestyle.

According to the authors, these beliefs often underlie decisions made regarding approaches to combating obesity, recommendations for maintaining public health, as well as the choice of future research directions. To confirm or refute many of these beliefs requires very expensive and complex clinical trials. However, this is the only way to get reliable information.

The researchers also formulated several factors contributing to the spread and strengthening of myths and false beliefs. Psychologists call one of them "the usual effect of a dose of exposure" – frequent repetition of an idea is often enough to convince a person of its fidelity. Another factor is that people may like certain ideas so much that it is very difficult to abandon them, even despite the presence of convincing refuting data. In addition, there is a phenomenon known as "confirmation bias", which consists in a person's tendency to choose sources of information that confirms his own opinion.

At the same time, Ellison notes that, fortunately, a person has scientific approaches and logical thinking at his disposal that allow him to identify erroneous attitudes and confirmation bias, as well as deepen existing knowledge.

Article by Krista Casazza et al. Weighing the Evidence of Common Beliefs in Obesity Research is published in the journal Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition.

Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of the University of Alabama at Birmingham:
UAB study says it is time to abandon obesity myths. 

25.06.2014