BUSTING MYTHS ABOUT WEIGHT LOSS

It is said that in America about two in every are overweight and around 36 percent of U.S. adults are obese. The topic of Weight loss is itself  surrounded  by many misconceptions. Are you too  confused about what weight loss advice to follow and what not to? We got you covered. Let’s explore together and separate facts from fiction. Here are some common myths about weight loss.

Myth 1: Cutting Off Carbs Is Mandatory

Many times carbs or carbohydrates are blamed for weight gain. In many cases low carb and high protein diets are practised for the purpose of losing weight. Which really makes you wonder, are carbs bad for you? The answer is ‘No’ . It has been seen in scientific studies that omitting carbohydrates from diet is not the right move as they are the primary source of energy and in most cases do not lead to weight gain. It is actually the question of what type of carbs to consume and what to avoid. It has come to attention that whole foods, high in carbs, are actually beneficial. Whereas, carbs that are refined are the real culprits behind weight loss.

Myth 2: Crash Diets Can Have Long Term Benefits

Crash diets are often opted by people as they promise rapid weight loss in a short duration of time. But such diets are not sustainable in the long run as they can cause poor nutrition, rebound effect, abnormal heart rate and constipation. After crash diets it was observed in a study that 40 percent of the participants gained weight more rapidly. Especially in countries like America where convenience foods are prevalent it is advised to adopt sustainable weight loss strategies for lasting success.

Myth 3: Cut Off Fats From Diet

Fats provide more calories as compared to carbs. Fats give the body about 9 calories per gram. Even though they are so dense in calories and are present in abundant amounts in junk foods, keeping the consumption in a healthy range will not cause you to gain weight. Foods claiming to be low fat might have less fat but they can be compensated with excess sugar in place of fats therefore, it is important to check the labels present on the packaging. Also healthy fats like nuts, avocado and olive oil are desirable for the proper functioning of the body.

Myth 4: Weight Loss is a Linear Process

Weight loss is not a linear process there may be some days when you will lose weight while others where you may not. This type of fluctuation is natural. This could be influenced by carrying excess water weight and it is very common in women during the menstrual cycle. Other reasons that can cause weight fluctuation is sleep deprivation or your digestion can be off.

Myth 5: Obesity Has Nothing To Do With Biology

There are a number of factors that play a role in weight loss  and biology is one of them. There are many pathways, hormonal and biological  in the body that regulate the weight of the body. In people who are obese their pathways have become dysfunctional. Obesity also has a lot to do with genetics and health disorders like PCOS, Hypothyroidism and depression which can make losing weight difficult but it does not mean that it is impossible, it just means that it needs a little more effort.