It would be impossible to work out how much has been said and written about weight loss, but that doesn’t mean it’s all well being-centred and accurate information. There are more myths surrounding weight than any other area of wellness, so let’s try to separate the facts from the fiction.
1. Starving yourself is the best way to lose weight.
As crash dieting causes your energy levels to plummet, your body craves more high-fat and high-sugar foods. This means that starving yourself actually lead to weight gain in the end.
2. To lose weight you need a radical exercise regime.
Actually, you’d be far better off making small changes that you can stick to for a long time, spreading 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise throughout your week.
3. Slimming pills are an effective, long-term weight loss tool.
Sorry, there’s no magic pill to help you lose weight, and slimming pills are certainly not a long-term solution – especially if they haven’t been prescribed by a doctor.
4. Healthy foods are pricier.
You’d save money by buying fresh ingredients and making a meal yourself instead of plumping for a high-fat, high-salt ready meal.
5. For the healthiest choice, you should pick foods labelled ‘low fat’ or ‘reduced fat’.
While foods have to meet certain legal criteria to use a ‘low fat’ label, there is far less criteria to stick on a ‘reduced fat’ label. Plus, even low-fat foods can contain high levels of sugar.
6. Butter contains more fat than margarine.
The types of fat in butter and margarine are different, but both can be unhealthy. Butter contains more saturated fat, but margarine is likely to contain hydrogenated fats, which may be more harmful to health.
7. Carbohydrates = weight gain.
According to a 2003 New England Journal of Medicine study, dieters on the best-known low-carb diet, the Atkins diet, did lose weight, but this was simply because they ate less overall. Carbohydrates won’t cause weight gain if eaten in the right quantities.
8. Skipping meals is a good way to lose weight.
Skipping meals altogether leads to tiredness, poor nutrition and an increased need to snack on high-fat and high-sugar foods, all of which point towards weight gain.