Common Myths About Obesity

Do you believe everything you hear? Many people talk about the issues of being obese and overweight, but only some things you may hear are true. A lot of times, people are just making assumptions about people who are overweight or obese.

You may have heard that children who are tall but heavy will eventually grow into their weight, and have a healthier BMI, as they get older. This is not true. A study was done on this with 2,802 people from the Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health. Everyone who participated in the study were measured in third grade, and then again in 12th grade. The children’s height and BMI were then compared, and a consistent pattern existed. The study proved that tall, heavy children, still have a risk of having a high BMI when they grow older. More research is still being done on this topic.

Another common myth is that women have a 48% chance of gaining 15 pounds in their first year of college. When students enter college, they are often very stressed and their eating and exercise schedule changes a lot. Though weight gain is common, the average student gains anywhere from 2-9 pounds. Not 15. There are many ways to prevent students from gaining weight once they enter college such as staying active, limiting the amount of alcohol intake, and not skipping meals.

It is very important for people to be educated about the risk of being obese and overweight. Both can cause many health problems such as heart disease, stokes, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. The best possible treatment for obesity is prevention. Remember not to believe everything you hear.