FACT, PRESUMPTIONS and MYTHS of Obesity

What really causes Obesity?. Do you know someone who are obese and they believed that it has something to do with their genes? Or eating food with high in calorie content contribute to that obesity?. Mass media including the use of world wide web, social network, contribute to rapid dissemination of information regarding obesity, but what is the fact of obesity that is supported by science and what are these myths and presumptions regarding obesity? Many held belief about obesity are found to be not supported by science as suggested in the review of literature posted in The New England Journal of Medicine

According to Krista Casazza, PhD, RD from University of Alabama at Birmingham and colleagues, We define myths as beliefs held to be true despite substantial refuting evidence, presumptions as beliefs held to be true for which convincing evidence does not yet confirm or disprove their truth, and facts as propositions backed by sufficient evidence to consider them empirically proved for practical purposes.

Myths

We review seven myths about obesity, along with the refuting evidence. Seven Myths about Obesity. provides anecdotal support that the beliefs are widely held or stated, in addition to reasons that support conjecture.

1. Small Sustained Changes in Energy Intake or Expenditure
Myth number 1: Small sustained changes in energy intake or expenditure will produce large, long-term weight changes.
2. Setting Realistic Weight-Loss Goals
Myth number 2: Setting realistic goals for weight loss is important, because otherwise patients will become frustrated and lose less weight.
3.  Rate of Weight Loss
Myth number 3: Large, rapid weight loss is associated with poorer long-term weight-loss outcomes, as compared with slow, gradual weight loss.
4.  Diet Readiness
Myth number 4: It is important to assess the stage of change or diet readiness in order to help patients who request weight-loss treatment.
5.  Importance of Physical Education
Myth number 5: Physical-education classes, in their current form, play an important role in reducing or preventing childhood obesity.
6. Breast-Feeding and Obesity
Myth number 6: Breast-feeding is protective against obesity.
7. Sexual Activity and Energy Expenditure
Myth number 7: A bout of sexual activity burns 100 to 300 kcal for each participant. 
 

 Presumptions

Just as it is important to recognize that some widely held beliefs are myths so that we may move beyond them, it is important to recognize presumptions, which are widely accepted beliefs that have neither been proved nor disproved, so that we may move forward to collect solid data to support or refute them. Instead of attempting to comprehensively describe all the data peripherally related to each of the six presumptions shown in Table 2Presumptions about Obesity., we describe the best evidence

1.Value of Breakfast
Presumption number 1: Regularly eating (versus skipping) breakfast is protective against obesity.
2.  Early Childhood Habits and Weight
Presumption number 2: Early childhood is the period in which we learn exercise and eating habits that influence our weight throughout life.
3.Value of Fruits and Vegetables
Presumption number 3: Eating more fruits and vegetables will result in weight loss or less weight gain, regardless of whether any other changes to one's behavior or environment are made.
4.  Weight Cycling and Mortality
Presumption number 4: Weight cycling (i.e., yo-yo dieting) is associated with increased mortality.
5. Snacking and Weight Gain
Presumption number 5: Snacking contributes to weight gain and obesity.
6.  Built Environment and Obesity
Presumption number 6: The built environment, in terms of sidewalk and park availability, influences the incidence or prevalence of obesity.

Facts 

Facts about Obesity. lists nine such facts and their practical implications for public health, policy, or clinical recommendations. The first two facts help establish a framework in which intervention and preventive techniques may work. The next four facts are more prescriptive, offering tools that can be conveyed to the public as well established. The last three facts are suited to clinical settings.

They contend that public health efforts to counteract weight-loss and obesity misconceptions and myths should focus on the following nine evidence-based facts:

1. Recognizing genes as a large contributor to obesity, but not one that cannot be overcome with sufficient environmental influence
2. The importance of lower caloric intake in weight management strategies
3. The positive effect of exercise on health
4. The necessity of sufficient exercise as a routine activity to maintain weight loss
5. The importance of involving parents and families in weight-loss and management strategies for overweight children
6. Incorporating structured meals and meal replacements as weight-loss aids
7. The utility of pharmacological agents in effective weight-loss strategies
8. Recognizing bariatric surgery as a viable option for long-term weight loss, and to decrease rates of incident diabetes and mortality
9.The role of genetics in obesity and that realistic changes to lifestyle and environment can lead to weight loss.

The researcher also acknowledge that the myths and presumptions about obesity that  have discussed are just a sampling of the numerous unsupported beliefs held by many people, including academics, regulators, and journalists, as well as the general public. Yet there are facts about obesity of which we may be reasonably certain — facts that are useful today. While we work to generate additional useful knowledge, we may in some cases justifiably move forward with hypothesized, but not proved, strategies. However, as a scientific community, we must always be open and honest with the public about the state of our knowledge and should rigorously evaluate unproved strategies.

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Source:
1.  http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa1208051#t=articleResults
(Myths, Presumptions, and Facts about Obesity)
2. http://www.clinicaladvisor.com/common-obesity-beliefs-often-unsupported-by-science/article/278306/ (Common obesity beliefs often unsupported by science)