These days, the preoccupation with weight loss is increasingly giving way to body positivity. What if it was time to get rid of those old myths?
There are still many misconceptions about weight loss in circulation today. It can sometimes be difficult to see things clearly and make the right choices for your health and well-being. To help put the weight issue into perspective, we've compiled a list of some popular myths related to this sensitive subject.
1
Do you sometimes feel that you live in a society where the culture of thinness (or dieting) occupies too much space? We often wrongly associate thinness, or big muscles, not only with beauty, but also with health. Unfortunately, this can have devastating effects on people of all ages.
Today, many of us believe that the beauty of the human body lies in its diversity. Everyone has a unique and distinct body, and so we should! This is why body positivity, which aims to accept the body in all its uniqueness, is currently so highly valued.
2
Weight loss is by no means always positive! What's true for one person is not necessarily true for another. Just think of people with eating disorders or those undergoing chemotherapy. In these cases, weight loss can be a real problem. And weight gain can even be a good thing!
Instead of focusing specifically on weight, it's a good idea for everyone to review their lifestyle habits, with the goal of improving them if necessary. Not for the sake of performance, but rather as a positive investment in long-term health.
3
For a long time, the benefits of deprivation-based diets, and even fasting, for health and weight control were touted. Today, we know that they do nothing to help overall health, or to maintain a stable weight for that matter.
The feeling of hunger can be an invaluable tool for better, balanced eating. Learning to recognize the signs of hunger and satiety, eating mindfully, and taking the time to appreciate them, is a more beneficial approach.
4
It's not quite as simple as that! In reality, no one can predict how their body will react to a change in eating habits or a physical activity program. Exercise may indeed result in weight loss, but it's not guaranteed. The belief that “moving more and eating less makes you lose weight” is increasingly being challenged.
However, regular physical activity has been shown to have many benefits, such as improving mood, vitality, well-being, sleep quality and so on. It also helps to prevent and control certain diseases (e.g. type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia). So, when it comes to long-term health, it's a sure bet.
5
It's true that being overweight or obese are risk factors for certain chronic diseases (e.g. type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia). That's why weight management is more important for certain people, depending on their health issues.
However, being thin is far from being a guarantee of good health! A direct association cannot be made, as thin people can have poor lifestyle habits or health problems, just as heavy people can have a healthy lifestyle and a lack of disease. You can't judge an individual's health simply by looking at them.
6
It's absolutely false to believe that you can have complete control over your weight, let alone that it's a matter of sheer willpower. Maintaining weight is a complex matter, and many factors come into play, including genetics, lifestyle, psychosocial conditions and so on.
Being overweight or obese is never a personal choice. Associating weight with willpower alone is simplistic and often harmful. It contributes to discrimination against people who are overweight, not to mention all the negative feelings it can generate (guilt, shame, worthlessness, sadness, etc.).
Weight loss at all costs, no thanks! To feel good about yourself and stay healthy, it's better to focus on developing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle over the long term, rather than just hitting a number on the scale.
Changing eating habits and regular physical activity are not absolute guarantees of weight loss. On the other hand, it is undeniable that these measures can promote better physical and psychological health. In fact, that's their main benefit, isn't it?
Accepting your body and that of others, listening to others, making the right choices every day, respecting your needs and wishes, aiming for balance... Let's work together so that, today, the most important factors weigh most heavily on the scales!
