Myths, presumptions, and facts about obesity

Krista Casazza; Kevin R Fontaine; Arne Astrup; Leann L Birch; Andrew W Brown; Michelle M Bohan Brown; Nefertiti Durant; Gareth Dutton; E Michael Foster; Steven B Heymsfield; Kerry McIver; Tapan Mehta; Nir Menachemi; P K Newby; Russell Pate; Barbara J Rolls; Bisakha Sen; Daniel L Smith; Diana M Thomas; David B Allison

doi:10.1056/NEJMsa1208051

Myths, presumptions, and facts about obesity

Krista Casazza, Kevin R Fontaine, Arne Astrup, Leann L Birch, Andrew W Brown, Michelle M Bohan Brown, Nefertiti Durant, Gareth Dutton, E Michael Foster, Steven B Heymsfield, Kerry McIver, Tapan Mehta, Nir Menachemi, P K Newby, Russell Pate, Barbara J Rolls, Bisakha Sen, Daniel L Smith, Diana M Thomas, David B Allison

Obesity Research

287 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Many beliefs about obesity persist in the absence of supporting scientific evidence (presumptions); some persist despite contradicting evidence (myths). The promulgation of unsupported beliefs may yield poorly informed policy decisions, inaccurate clinical and public health recommendations, and an unproductive allocation of research resources and may divert attention away from useful, evidence-based information. METHODS: Using Internet searches of popular media and scientific literature, we identified, reviewed, and classified obesity-related myths and presumptions. We also examined facts that are well supported by evidence, with an emphasis on those that have practical implications for public health, policy, or clinical recommendations. RESULTS: We identified seven obesity-related myths concerning the effects of small sustained increases in energy intake or expenditure, establishment of realistic goals for weight loss, rapid weight loss, weight-loss readiness, physical-education classes, breast-feeding, and energy expended during sexual activity. We also identified six presumptions about the purported effects of regularly eating breakfast, early childhood experiences, eating fruits and vegetables, weight cycling, snacking, and the built (i.e., human-made) environment. Finally, we identified nine evidence-supported facts that are relevant for the formulation of sound public health, policy, or clinical recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: False and scientifically unsupported beliefs about obesity are pervasive in both scientific literature and the popular press. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health.)

Original language	English
Journal	New England Journal of Medicine
Volume	368
Issue number	5
Pages (from-to)	446-454
Number of pages	9
ISSN	0028-4793
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMsa1208051
Publication status	Published - 31 Jan 2013

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Casazza, K., Fontaine, K. R., Astrup, A., Birch, L. L., Brown, A. W., Bohan Brown, M. M., Durant, N., Dutton, G., Foster, E. M., Heymsfield, S. B., McIver, K., Mehta, T., Menachemi, N., Newby, P. K., Pate, R., Rolls, B. J., Sen, B., Smith, D. L., Thomas, D. M., & Allison, D. B. (2013). Myths, presumptions, and facts about obesity. New England Journal of Medicine, 368(5), 446-454. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMsa1208051

Casazza, K, Fontaine, KR, Astrup, A, Birch, LL, Brown, AW, Bohan Brown, MM, Durant, N, Dutton, G, Foster, EM, Heymsfield, SB, McIver, K, Mehta, T, Menachemi, N, Newby, PK, Pate, R, Rolls, BJ, Sen, B, Smith, DL, Thomas, DM & Allison, DB 2013, 'Myths, presumptions, and facts about obesity', New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 368, no. 5, pp. 446-454. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMsa1208051

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abstract = "BACKGROUND: Many beliefs about obesity persist in the absence of supporting scientific evidence (presumptions); some persist despite contradicting evidence (myths). The promulgation of unsupported beliefs may yield poorly informed policy decisions, inaccurate clinical and public health recommendations, and an unproductive allocation of research resources and may divert attention away from useful, evidence-based information. METHODS: Using Internet searches of popular media and scientific literature, we identified, reviewed, and classified obesity-related myths and presumptions. We also examined facts that are well supported by evidence, with an emphasis on those that have practical implications for public health, policy, or clinical recommendations. RESULTS: We identified seven obesity-related myths concerning the effects of small sustained increases in energy intake or expenditure, establishment of realistic goals for weight loss, rapid weight loss, weight-loss readiness, physical-education classes, breast-feeding, and energy expended during sexual activity. We also identified six presumptions about the purported effects of regularly eating breakfast, early childhood experiences, eating fruits and vegetables, weight cycling, snacking, and the built (i.e., human-made) environment. Finally, we identified nine evidence-supported facts that are relevant for the formulation of sound public health, policy, or clinical recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: False and scientifically unsupported beliefs about obesity are pervasive in both scientific literature and the popular press. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health.)",

author = "Krista Casazza and Fontaine, {Kevin R} and Arne Astrup and Birch, {Leann L} and Brown, {Andrew W} and {Bohan Brown}, {Michelle M} and Nefertiti Durant and Gareth Dutton and Foster, {E Michael} and Heymsfield, {Steven B} and Kerry McIver and Tapan Mehta and Nir Menachemi and Newby, {P K} and Russell Pate and Rolls, {Barbara J} and Bisakha Sen and Smith, {Daniel L} and Thomas, {Diana M} and Allison, {David B}",

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AU - Casazza, Krista

AU - Fontaine, Kevin R

AU - Astrup, Arne

AU - Birch, Leann L

AU - Brown, Andrew W

AU - Bohan Brown, Michelle M

AU - Durant, Nefertiti

AU - Dutton, Gareth

AU - Foster, E Michael

AU - Heymsfield, Steven B

AU - McIver, Kerry

AU - Mehta, Tapan

AU - Menachemi, Nir

AU - Newby, P K

AU - Pate, Russell

AU - Rolls, Barbara J

AU - Sen, Bisakha

AU - Smith, Daniel L

AU - Thomas, Diana M

AU - Allison, David B

N1 - CURIS 2013 NEXS 030

PY - 2013/1/31

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N2 - BACKGROUND: Many beliefs about obesity persist in the absence of supporting scientific evidence (presumptions); some persist despite contradicting evidence (myths). The promulgation of unsupported beliefs may yield poorly informed policy decisions, inaccurate clinical and public health recommendations, and an unproductive allocation of research resources and may divert attention away from useful, evidence-based information. METHODS: Using Internet searches of popular media and scientific literature, we identified, reviewed, and classified obesity-related myths and presumptions. We also examined facts that are well supported by evidence, with an emphasis on those that have practical implications for public health, policy, or clinical recommendations. RESULTS: We identified seven obesity-related myths concerning the effects of small sustained increases in energy intake or expenditure, establishment of realistic goals for weight loss, rapid weight loss, weight-loss readiness, physical-education classes, breast-feeding, and energy expended during sexual activity. We also identified six presumptions about the purported effects of regularly eating breakfast, early childhood experiences, eating fruits and vegetables, weight cycling, snacking, and the built (i.e., human-made) environment. Finally, we identified nine evidence-supported facts that are relevant for the formulation of sound public health, policy, or clinical recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: False and scientifically unsupported beliefs about obesity are pervasive in both scientific literature and the popular press. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health.)

AB - BACKGROUND: Many beliefs about obesity persist in the absence of supporting scientific evidence (presumptions); some persist despite contradicting evidence (myths). The promulgation of unsupported beliefs may yield poorly informed policy decisions, inaccurate clinical and public health recommendations, and an unproductive allocation of research resources and may divert attention away from useful, evidence-based information. METHODS: Using Internet searches of popular media and scientific literature, we identified, reviewed, and classified obesity-related myths and presumptions. We also examined facts that are well supported by evidence, with an emphasis on those that have practical implications for public health, policy, or clinical recommendations. RESULTS: We identified seven obesity-related myths concerning the effects of small sustained increases in energy intake or expenditure, establishment of realistic goals for weight loss, rapid weight loss, weight-loss readiness, physical-education classes, breast-feeding, and energy expended during sexual activity. We also identified six presumptions about the purported effects of regularly eating breakfast, early childhood experiences, eating fruits and vegetables, weight cycling, snacking, and the built (i.e., human-made) environment. Finally, we identified nine evidence-supported facts that are relevant for the formulation of sound public health, policy, or clinical recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: False and scientifically unsupported beliefs about obesity are pervasive in both scientific literature and the popular press. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health.)

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ER -

Myths, presumptions, and facts about obesity

Abstract

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