title: Weighing the Evidence of Common Beliefs in Obesity Research.
abstract: Obesity is a topic on which many views are strongly held in the absence of scientific evidence to support those views, and some views are strongly held despite evidence to contradict those views. We refer to the former as "presumptions" and the latter as "myths." Here, we present nine myths and 10 presumptions surrounding the effects of rapid weight loss; setting realistic goals in weight loss therapy; stage of change or readiness to lose weight; physical education classes; breastfeeding; daily self-weighing; genetic contribution to obesity; the "Freshman 15"; food deserts; regularly eating (versus skipping) breakfast; eating close to bedtime; eating more fruits and vegetables; weight cycling (i.e., yo-yo dieting); snacking; built environment; reducing screen time in childhood obesity; portion size; participation in family mealtime; and drinking water as a means of weight loss. For each of these, we describe the belief and present evidence that the belief is widely held or stated, reasons to support the conjecture that the belief might be true, evidence to directly support or refute the belief, and findings from randomized controlled trials, if available. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of these determinations, conjecture on why so many myths and presumptions exist, and suggestions for limiting the spread of these and other unsubstantiated beliefs about the obesity domain.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Nutrition Sciences , University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham , Alabama USA.
authors.forename: Krista
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Casazza
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Astrup
authors.forename: Fredrik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bertz
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baum
authors.forename: Michelle Bohan
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: Nefertiti
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Durant
authors.forename: Gareth
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dutton
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Fields
authors.forename: Kevin R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Fontaine
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heymsfield
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Levitsky
authors.forename: Tapan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: Nir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Menachemi
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Newby
authors.forename: Russell
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pate
authors.forename: Hollie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Raynor
authors.forename: Barbara J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Rolls
authors.forename: Bisakha
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: Daniel L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wansink
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Allison
mesh_terms: D001835:Body Weight; D004032:Diet / Q000379:methods*; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D012106:Research; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D015431:Weight Loss
keywords: Obesity; myths; presumption; research