Myths About Obesity

Question 1

Restrictive dieting

Answer 1

A diet people follow for weight loss that is rarely kept off in the long term. It causes deprivation that triggers a biological starvation response that renders food as more attention-grbbing, difficult to stop thinkig about, and more rewarding to consume.
(Putting food on a pedestal, as a reward)

Question 2

Unhealthy eating cues

Answer 2

Cues in one’s immediate surroundings or environment, like an advertisement, that is attention grabbing and promotes unhealthy eating behaviors.
However, if cues promoting healthy eating were more noticeable, stress and distraction could actually encourage healthy behavioral choices

Question 3

Incidental Activity

Answer 3

Activities that do not rely on willpower (doing your job, doing housework, using modes of transportation) and can be altered through the physical environment.

Question 4

Normative pressures

Answer 4

Our perceptions of eating and physical activity that are based on societal standards. One behavior is allowed whereas another is viewed as highly unusual.

Question 5

Instant recess

Answer 5

A scientifically based (and fun) 10-minute movement break designed to be incorporated into workplace meetings

Question 6

What are the three misconceptions about obesity?

Answer 6

1). Restrictive diets lead to long-term weight loss
2). Stigmatizing obesity is an effective strategy for promoting weight reduction
3). Weight is equal to and is a good measure of physical health

Question 7

Why are restrictive diets ineffective?

Answer 7

Regardless of the particular type of restrictive diet that people follow, weight that is lost in the short term is rarely kept off in the long term (recall the spreadsheet example of the woman from lecture)

Question 8

Why doesn’t weight stigma reduce obesity?

Answer 8

Weight stigma results in increases in psychological and physiological indices of stress, a state that is harmful to health and can lead to weight gain
- Being exposed to weight stigma causes increased eating, predicts exercise avoidance, and depletes the very mental resources needed to control one’s behavior

Question 9

Why shouldn’t weight be a predictor of health?

Answer 9

Commonly cited linkages between obesity and poor health may be partly explained by other factors that are known to be strongly related to health problems, such as a sedentary lifestyle, lower SES, and not receiving preventive medical care

Question 10

What are some of the suggested changes that would be more effective in improving health?

Answer 10

• Deemphasize funding on research on restrictive/willpower-based diets
• Regular cafeteria design to visually highlight vegetables
• Implement education progrmas aimed at measuring and interpreting blood pressure levels
• Incentivize workplace physical activity using programs such as Instant Recess

Basically, research shows that individual willpower-based strategies are ineffective; rather, making changes to the environment is necessary to achieve healthy behavior