Researchers aim to debunk common obesity myths

By Caroline Scott-Thomas

- Last updated on GMT

Current data are "rife with circumstantial evidence", the study's authors wrote
Current data are "rife with circumstantial evidence", the study's authors wrote

Related tags Obesity

Most people trying to lose weight will have heard that they should aim for a gradual loss in order to avoid regaining weight, and that they should not skip breakfast – but these commonly held beliefs have not been proven, according to a new paper in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The study’s senior author, David Allison, directs the National Obesity Research Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and he says some myths and presumptions about the causes of obesity and best weight loss strategies prevail even among many academics and public health experts.

“Passionate interests, the human tendency to seek explanations for observed phenomena, and everyday experience appear to contribute to strong convictions about obesity, despite the absence of supporting data,”​ the paper said.

It aims to debunk seven common obesity myths, defined as beliefs for which there is strong refuting evidence, as well as six presumptions about obesity, for which there is no strong evidence to confirm or disprove them.

Incremental loss?

The myths include the idea that small, sustained changes, like walking for ten minutes a day or eating two more potato crisps, will have a cumulative effect on weight over time. However, recent studies have shown that this theory does not take into account variation in the person’s body composition in response to such changes. They may have an effect, but not as large an effect as is often supposed.

Other myths include the importance of being ‘ready’ to lose weight, setting realistic weight loss goals in order to avoid becoming discouraged, and losing weight gradually – or risk putting the weight back on. All of these ideas have been disproved, Allison et al.​ wrote.

Physical education

Physical education is also often advocated as a means to prevent childhood obesity, despite no evidence supporting this assumption. The researchers note that there is evidence that physical activity in sufficient quantity can be useful for weight maintenance, but mere participation in physical education programmes has not been shown to be effective.

Among the presumptions people make about obesity and weight loss, the authors point to the idea that snacking necessarily leads to weight gain, increasing fruit and vegetable consumption will lead to weight loss, and regularly eating breakfast is protective against weight gain. None of these presumptions has been scientifically proven, they said.

“Many of the myths and presumptions about obesity reflect a failure to consider the diverse aspects of energy balance, especially physiological compensation for changes in intake or expenditure,”​ they wrote.

“…Interested parties do not regularly request the results from randomized, long-term studies that measure weight or adiposity as an outcome. Therefore, the presented data are rife with circumstantial evidence, and people are not informed that the existing evidence is not compelling (e.g., breakfast consumption). Furthermore, some suggested treatment or prevention strategies may work well (e.g., increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables) but only as part of a multifaceted program for weight reduction. Yet such a strategy is often presented as though it will have effects in isolation and even among persons not participating in weight-loss programs. We must recognize that evidence that a technique is beneficial for the treatment of obesity is not necessarily evidence that it will be helpful in population-based approaches to the prevention of obesity, and vice versa.”

 

Source: New England Journal of Medicine

2013; 368:446-454 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMsa1208051

“Myths, Presumptions, and Facts about Obesity”

Authors: Krista Casazza, Kevin R. Fontaine, Arne Astrup, Leann L. Birch, Andrew W. Brown, Michelle M. Bohan Brown, Nefertiti Durant, Gareth Dutton, Michael Foster, Steven B. Heymsfield, Kerry McIver, Tapan Mehta, Nir Menachemi, P.K. Newby, Russell Pate, Barbara J. Rolls, Bisakha Sen, Daniel L. Smith, Diana M. Thomas, and David B. Allison

Related topics Science

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2 comments

Common sense doesn't necessarily need clinical trials.

Posted by chris aylmer,

I've seen it for myself. Someone is on a diet and skips breakfast deliberately, feeling very pious. They get hunger pangs mid morning and feel they deserve a packet of crisps or a chocolate bar. Then wonder why they are always on a diet and never seem to lose weight.
I do agree that targeting "realistic" weight losses of a few pounds is a waste of time. You need to decide the target weight you want to be and then go for it...keep visualising yourself at the new weight. I also agree that eating or exercising a little more or a little less each day will not necessarily lead to any weight gain or loss in the long term. The body is not stupid..it will adjust metabolism accordingly. Thus people on a diet may feel too tired to exercise or exercising may make them more hungry, upsetting adherence to the diet or exercise regime. Also, in people who normally overeat, they may be passing a lot of calories out in the stools, not necessarily absorbing them and turning them all into fat. Therefore they may still be absorbing the same calories even when they eat less. This may also explain why someone who chronically overeats may not necessarily keep gaining weight.

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burn fat

Posted by charles brown,

gotta cross-train at least an hour a day six times a week... Get enough rest and avoid vices. Try golf.

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