| Obesity means having too much body fat. | | | | major contributors to obesity, there are other |
| Obesity can run in families, but just how much is | | | | elements to consider in evaluating causes of |
| due to genes is hard to determine. Obesity is | | | | obesity. Second myth is only prevalent in |
| mainly caused by taking in more calories than are | | | | developed countries that foster indulgent lifestyles, |
| used up in physical activity and daily life. Obesity | | | | with poor diets and lack of exercise and facts is |
| puts you at greater risk of developing high blood | | | | economically advanced regions of developing |
| pressure, diabetes and many other serious health | | | | countries, prevalence rates of obesity may be as |
| problems. Obesity is also increasing rapidly | | | | high as rates in industrialized countries. Contrary to |
| throughout the world. Obesity also can lead to | | | | popular opinion, in developing countries, where |
| stroke, greater risk for certain cancers such as | | | | malnutrition levels are high, there are also |
| breast or colon cancer, and even death. Obesity is | | | | reported cases of obesity. |
| not just a cosmetic consideration; it is a dire | | | | Third myths is Obesity affecting those who are |
| health dilemma directly harmful to one's health. | | | | moderately obese as well. But the Framingham |
| Obesity occurs over time when you eat more | | | | study showed that "over" weight women had a |
| calories than you use. The balance between | | | | lower mortality risk than "under" weight women. |
| calories-in and calories-out differs for each person. | | | | Fourth myths is weight gain in women over time |
| In the United States, roughly 300,000 deaths per | | | | is healthy and part of a natural aging process and |
| year are directly related to obesity, and more | | | | fact is weight gain of more than 20 pounds is not |
| than 80% of these deaths are in patients with a | | | | a normal part of the maturation process and may |
| BMI over 30. In the United States, women are | | | | actually increase a woman’s risk of |
| slightly more at risk for becoming obese than | | | | obesity-related disease. Fifth myth is obese |
| men. Genetic factors play some part in the | | | | individuals should attempt to lose a large amount |
| development of obesity. | | | | of weight as quickly as possible but fact is |
| Obesity is a disease that needs to be taken | | | | actually, weight loss – especially fast weight |
| seriously. Obesity is one of the few remaining | | | | loss (more than three pounds per week) or loss |
| socially sanctioned prejudices. There are four | | | | of a large amount of weight – can increase |
| widely shared, inaccurate stereotypes about | | | | the risk of developing gallstones. The highest |
| obesity which perpetuate the prejudice against fat | | | | mortality (death) rate for women was for those |
| people. Some Common myths and facts | | | | who were "under" weight. The lowest mortality |
| associated with Obesity. First is People only | | | | rates were for women 10 per cent and 20 per |
| become obese and overweight because they do | | | | cent over average weight. and last six myth is |
| not engage in weight loss efforts including physical | | | | osteoarthritis only develops when an individual |
| activity and have unhealthy eating habits and | | | | gains a large amount of weight over a short time |
| facts is Obesity is not always a behavioral issue. | | | | period but fact is timing is not a major factor in |
| Although physical activity and eating habits are | | | | the development of osteoarthritis. |