5 Common Misperceptions About Obesity
Numerous urban legends and misinformation campaigns have distorted the reality of obesity. Despite decades of study and examinations, many people remain ignorant about the fundamental causes of obesity. Society has embraced a misconception of obesity that needs to be dispelled for bringing a revolution.
Even though many people don’t understand anything regarding obesity and weight reduction, they tend to propagate myths and fallacies that are extremely destructive.
It is vital to eliminate the myths surrounding obesity. This article will decipher 5 of the most frequent myths regarding this chronic disease. The most prevalent obesity myths and misunderstandings include the following
Obesity is not a disease
It is believed that obesity is caused by bad lifestyle choices and personality faults. This is not true!
Obesity should be addressed as seriously as any other illness or disease. It is a medical issue that affects millions of individuals worldwide and increases one’s risk of contracting other diseases and health concerns. Obesity is a widespread disorder that can be a result of heredity, medication, or in some cases, unusual disorders that affect millions of people worldwide
One example is weight gain caused by using certain medications to treat physical or mental diseases. Certain people are inclined to obesity as a genetic trait, and they may have to deal with it from an early age.
Obesity has spread like fire around the globe destroying millions of lives just because it is not being treated the right way. The vast number of people inflicted with obesity proves that it is a chronic disease that requires immediate treatment.
Obesity is caused by a combination of a sedentary lifestyle and a poor diet
“Eat less and walk more”, is the slogan enchanted to the individual who is trying to fight obesity. This does no good to the poor individual who has tried to starve himself and burn his calories in the gym. This is because obesity is not confined to eating and exercising only. There is more to the story than the people can perceive.
Obesity can result from several factors, including a lack of physical exercise, poor dietary habits., psychological stress, persistent discomfort, endocrine (hormone) disruptors, and the usage of certain medicines.
Often these factors interact with one another to increase the risk of obesity. Stress, for example, has been related to a higher risk of gaining weight. Stress can influence sleep quality, leading to sleep deprivation, which is a contributing factor to obesity. Furthermore, sleep deprivation has been linked to an increase in stress levels. According to a study, sleep deprivation is linked to higher levels of stress hormones.
A respiratory issue known as snoring, or sleeping with one’s mouth open, is one of the most common health problems related to obesity. A cycle can be constructed once more: As people gain weight, sleep apnea can occur, causing sleep deprivation and, eventually, weight gain.
Another example is the link between persistent pain and weight gain. Although the causes of this link are undoubtedly complex, they are likely to include chemical abnormalities, sleep problems, melancholy, and lifestyle changes.
It’s easy to understand how chronic pain, by increasing stress and interfering with sleep, could increase the previously indicated negative feedback loops.
So, obesity can be induced by a number of factors, including stress, lack of sleep, and pain. Each circumstance is different, so just telling someone to “exercise more and eat less” may not be adequate. Consumption of calories and physical activity are important to fight against obesity, but they are only one part of the puzzle.
The most efficient strategy to reduce weight is through a low-carbohydrate diet
Any diet that severely restricts a particular food group should be avoided for a long period since you may have difficulty adhering to the plan. If you severely restrict your fat, carbohydrate, and protein intake, you risk developing deficiencies in key nutrients. With advance planning, you can incorporate all these goods into a healthful diet by keeping things in perspective. Thus, the misconception that abstaining from carbs will result in a healthy lifestyle should be put to rest!
Yes, you heard it correctly! It is evident that for a healthy lifestyle, incorporating all types of nutrients is important. Eliminating carbs may lead to malnutrition which might aggravate the health issues even more.
It is often advised to skip meals for reducing weight, however, this will result in weight loss in the short term, but not in the long term. If you restrict your food intake, your body will lack the energy it requires to function optimally. There is a good chance you will be unable to continue with your daily routine. If you skip meals, you risk feeling famished, which can result in overeating and calorie consumption. As an alternative, consume three meals every day. A reasonable general rule is to get a nutritious meal every four to five hours.
Obesity has little influence on your health
The diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, and sleep apnea are not associated with obesity. These are treated as separate entities and are perceived to have no connection with obesity. However, in reality, the root cause of all these health issues may be linked to obesity.
Even minor weight loss may have health benefits and aid in reducing these health hazards. If you drop 5–10 percent of your total body weight, you should experience health benefits such as lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and lower blood sugar levels. So assuming that obesity has little influence on health is a myth that needs to be corrected at all costs.
Obese individuals tend to be sluggish
Obesity is caused by a multitude of circumstances and increasing one’s physical activity can help one lose weight if the cause is a sedentary lifestyle only. Physical activity is important for a healthy life, but the story is more complicated than that.
It’s also important to consider some people’s inability to engage in physical activities. For someone with physical disabilities, getting around might be challenging, if not impossible.
The likelihood that some mental health problems, such as depression, can have a considerable negative impact on motivation further complicates matters.
In addition to their physical and mental health issues, some obese people may have a negative self-perception, making leaving the house to seem even more difficult than it already is.
So, putting the blame entirely on the individual is entirely wrong. No one would want to have an unshaped body and be trolled by people. Hence, it is important to analyze the severity of obesity as a disease and not just associate it with the poor lifestyle of the individual.
Many specialists and doctors are working to spread awareness regarding obesity and its treatment so that the myths associated with them can be eliminated. Many individuals who are obese are not consulting or getting treatment because they fear that they will be ridiculed for being sluggish. It is time to remove the myths that are endangering the poor lives who are battling against obesity.
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