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Cited by 169Obesity, Physical Activity, DietObesity and Health PracticesNutrition, Health and Food Behavior

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 425 of the 425 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Weighing the Evidence of Common Beliefs in Obesity Research

Open access
Casazza, Krista, Brown, Andrew, Astrup, Arne, Bertz, Fredrik, Baum, Charles, Brown, Michelle Bohan, Dawson, John, Durant, Nefertiti, Dutton, Gareth, Fields, David A., Fontaine, Kevin R., Heymsfield, Steven, Levitsky, David, Mehta, Tapan, Menachemi, Nir, Newby, P.K., Pate, Russell, Raynor, Hollie, Rolls, Barbara J., Sen, Bisakha, Smith, Daniel L., Thomas, Diana, Wansink, Brian, Allison, David B.·2015·Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition
DOI 10.1080/10408398.2014.922044PMC PMC4272668
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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.

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Citations

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Research works printed but not linked: 31

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Metadata

Authors
Casazza, K., Brown, A., Astrup, A., Bertz, F., Baum, C., Brown, M. B., Dawson, J., Durant, N., Dutton, G., Fields, D. A., Fontaine, K. R., Heymsfield, S., Levitsky, D., Mehta, T., Menachemi, N., Newby, P. K., Pate, R., Raynor, H., Rolls, B. J., Sen, B., Smith, D. L., Thomas, D., Wansink, B., & Allison, D. B.
Affiliations
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham (US)
  • University of Copenhagen (DK)
  • Cornell University (US)
  • Middle Tennessee State University (US)
  • ,
  • University of Oklahoma (US)
  • Pennington Biomedical Institute, George A. Bray, Jr. Endowed Super Chair in Nutrition, Metabolism-Body Composition, Baton Rouge, Louisiana USA
  • Boston University (US)
  • University of South Carolina (US)
  • University of Tennessee at Knoxville (US)
  • Pennsylvania State University (US)
  • Montclair State University (US)
Corresponding author
Allison, David B.
ORCID
Venue
Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2015-06-08
Volume
55
Issue
14
Pages
2014-2053
ISSN
  • 1040-8398 (ISSN-L)
  • 1549-7852
DOI
10.1080/10408398.2014.922044
PMC
PMC4272668
OpenAlex
W2028081588
Cited by
169
References
419
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 55 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 10
FWCI
2.24
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (T32HL072757)
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (T32DK062710, P30DK056336, P30DK079626)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity and Health Practices
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
Keywords
obesity, weight loss, rapid weight loss, weight loss goals, stages of change, physical education, breastfeeding, self-weighing, Freshman 15, food deserts, breakfast skipping, fruit and vegetable intake, weight cycling, snacking, built environment, screen time, childhood obesity, portion size, family meals, water intake
MeSH terms
Body Weight, Diet, Humans, Obesity, Research, Weight Loss, Exercise, Sedentary Behavior

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