5 Myths and Facts About Obesity
Globally, obesity affects 2 billion adults as of 2019 and its prevalence amongst the said demographic has nearly tripled in the last forty years. The gravity of the obesity crisis faced by the world is only matched by the neglect and stigma the masses; suffering from obesity, continue to face each day. To this day, actions aren’t being taken to take this disease seriously as people suffering from obesity continue to face judgments as health systems across the world refuse to effectively prevent or manage it.
Various studies have now been conducted that disprove the mainstream beliefs spewed across mass media. This has resulted in the stigmatisation of a disease that most people think to be incurable. Due to this misinformation, people, media, and even the government continue to advocate for unsupported beliefs.
We are setting the record straight by eradicating the myths surrounding obesity itself.
Myth 1: Obesity’s Root Cause is Lifestyle Choices
Mainstream media continues to blame obesity on poor diet choices and a lack of complete physical activity. There is a mass generalization that people with obesity are “lazy and they lack motivation.
Fact: Obesity is mostly multifactorial.
It is a no-brainer that diet and exercise are an integral part of a person’s health regimen. However, there are various factors that contribute to an increase in obesity.
Moreover, the truth of the matter is that most people; even those that have a healthy weight, barely meet the recommended physical activity each day.
The simple conclusion is that obesity isn’t a mere choice. It isn’t only the result of making poor choices in life.
Common contributors towards obesity are stress, lack of sleep, underlying medical conditions, hormones, chronic pain, genetics, medications, and a multitude of environmental and economic factors also play a key role.
(Obesity is a complex, chronic and progressive disease. Kindly mention this somewhere here/ in the answer.)
Hence, the management of obesity needs to be tailored to fit the said person’s underlying conditions.
Myth 2: Losing Weight Will Fix All the Health Issues
It is known that the loss of weight involves the many systems responsible for storing energy in your body. It can’t be argued that weight loss does result in the reduction of risk associated with heart disease, diabetes, and other complications. However, disruption of the body’s energy systems can also lead to other health issues.
The issues accompanied by weight loss can make it difficult to sustain the weight that you have lost.
Fact: Weight loss can cause health issues too
Yes, weight loss can improve your overall health but it can also be associated with psychological stress. Losing weight too quickly increases your risk of not only muscle loss but also a further reduction in your metabolism. It can even cause sleep issues, gallstones, nutrient deficiencies, and other complications over time.
Weight loss has also been known to affect mental and emotional health.
It is very important that you talk to your doctor or consult a professional bariatric surgeon to aid you in this journey. They can help you ensure that you lose weight but in a healthy manner.
Your doctor can also refer you to someone in the mental health profession. They can ensure that your weight loss journey is not only physically relaxing but your emotional journey too.
Myth 3: Weight Loss is All About “Calories In Vs Calories Out”
There is a general perception in our society formed by gross misinformation that weight loss is simply about calories intake vs outtake. To make it simpler it simply translates to the fact that in order to lose weight, one just needs to burn enough calories against the number of calories one eats.
Fact: The concept of “Calories In vs Calories Out” is too superficial
No one is denying the importance of calories involved in the weight loss process, this mindset is demeaning and superficial at best. Certain macronutrients like fats, carbohydrates, and proteins can have diverse effects on your body.
It is a known fact that the calories you tend to consume; the type and amount have an effect on the amount of energy you use. The foods that contribute to your intake have the ability to affect hormones that go onto regulate when and how much food you eat. That being said, certain foods can cause hormonal changes and encourage weight gain.
Whereas other foods can increase the feeling of fullness and go on to increase your metabolic rate. Research suggests that when you decrease your intake of carbohydrates with a simultaneous increase in the intake of fat and protein, it will lead to a greater weight loss than simply reducing your caloric intake overall.
An additional problem associated with the idea of weight loss on the basis of caloric intake is that it completely ignores the effect that food has on your body. Eating to get nutritional benefits is of the essence for the prevention of diseases and staying healthy over a longer period of time. For most people simply starving themselves and depriving themselves of food won’t solve the weight loss problem, rather it will give ways to more problems in the long term.
What time of the day one consumes food is relevant, eating during the day vs at night
Myth 4: The Number of Kgs/Lbs You Lose Is The Measure of Your Success
It is surprisingly common that weight loss is focused upon the scale and a number on it. Research in this paradigm now suggests that weight loss as a number is not only an ineffective measure of success but can also be psychologically damaging leading to low self-esteem and body image issues.
When the focus is on a said number, this leads to a never-ending cycle of weight loss and weight gain. This also results in augmented stress, eating disorders, self-esteem issues, and an unhealthy obsession with body image.
Fact: Success is Measured by Health and not by a targeted number
The key to long term success with weight loss is also associated with making healthy choices about the food you eat and the exercise you do.
More and more evidence now suggests that for people suffering from obesity the focus should also be shifted to weight-neutral outcomes like diet quality, blood pressure, self-esteem, positive body image, and a general decrease in the risk of heart problems. This will not only ensure that a person is healthy but it will also ensure that the person is mentally healthy.
Myth 5: Bariatric Surgery Does More Harm Than Good
In Pakistan, there is a general stigma against the idea of optional surgery and most people view Bariatric Surgery as a vanity option they think it is the last option. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Growing research since the early 2000s shows that bariatric surgery is no longer an optional surgery rather it has become a dire need for people suffering from Obesity.
Fact: Bariatric Surgery is More Successful Than the Conventional Idea of Weight Loss
People need to understand that for most people with obesity, it is not a choice. They not only have to live with it but they also have to suffer the judgments passed on them by random people. Most people starve themselves just to reform society’s idea of normal which in terms is dire for their health.
Bariatric Surgery is no longer an elective surgery, it is done by professionals who are trying to destigmatize the taboo surrounding it. It is always the better option to talk to professionals rather than the opinion of people who aren’t certified doctors. Bariatric Surgery is focused upon health restoration than simply the idea of weight loss.
Obesity is an extremely complex and complicated disease. There is a vast sea of knowledge that we don’t know about regarding this disease. This is why people associate ideas and opinions with them that is far from the truth.
Once we start dissecting the facts from fiction a clearer picture of what obesity is can present itself to you and the masses. If you’re someone that might suffer from obesity, just knowing the truth can help you in getting the treatment that you need.
