Much of the information taken as fact when it comes to obesity and weight loss has not actually been scientifically substantiated. These myths and unproven assumptions have been repeated so often and with such conviction that even scientists in the field have started to believe them. This doesn t include Dr. David B. Allison, director of the Nutrition Obesity Research Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and colleagues, who are trying to set the record straight with an article published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
The myths, defined as beliefs held to be true despite refuting evidence, include concepts such as that setting realistic goals is important, otherwise the patient will become frustrated and will not lose weight; large, rapid weight loss is associated with poorer long-term outcomes; and physical education classes, as they exist now, play a role in reducing or preventing childhood obesity. The presumptions, defined as beliefs held to be true even though evidence does not exist to prove or disprove them, include concepts such as that regularly eating breakfast is protective against obesity; exercise and eating habits during childhood will influence our weight throughout our lives; and eating more fruits and vegetables will result in weight loss or less weight gain. These myths and presumptions have become prone to something Dr. Allison calls the reasonableness bias, the idea that something sounds so reasonable it must be true.
In order to prove or disprove these myths using sound science, the authors advocate moving away from association studies to doing more randomized, prospective clinical trials to establish causality. We already know that associations have been found between eating breakfast and thinness, but we can t conclude that eating breakfast makes you thinner.
And obesity experts have commended Dr. Allison s efforts. Dr. Jeffrey M. Friedman, a Rockefeller University obesity researcher says, In my view, there is more misinformation pretending to be fact in this field than in any other I can think of.
ACSH s Dr. Ruth Kava adds It is certainly important to base our obesity-targeted treatment and prevention efforts on sound, scientifically substantiated information. We should thank these authors for their efforts to promote that position.