No doubt you’ve noticed that the world of weight management is populated by all kinds of claims, theories, diet strategies, and different approaches, many of which totally contradict most of the others. And this problem isn’t confined to the snake oil peddlers and fad diet promoters who have a financial interest in getting you to believe their particular claims. Even reputable scientists and health professionals don’t always agree on “the facts,” or on the best way to help people manage their health and their weight successfully. Given all this confusion and uncertainty, it’s not surprising that even some of the most basic and widely held convictions people have about weight and health turn out not to be proven fact. Below, for example, are five very basic statements about body weight and health that you’ve probably heard many times, from many different sources. Not all of them are true. Your mission for today, should you decide to accept it, is to correctly determine whether each of these statements is true or false. If you are one of the first 25 readers to get all five correct, you will receive a SparkGoodie valued at 100 SparkPoints, personalized with a congratulatory note from me (If you're not already a member of SparkPeople, you will need to join for free before posting your answers, and set up your SparkPage by the time the prizes are awarded next Thursday. Otherwise, your Goodie will get lost in transit). While the cash value of this reward may not impress your banker or your loan shark, and you can’t eat it, I’m sure you'll be excited by the prospect of watching its sentimental value increase exponentially as this blog expands its readership, with your name permanently recorded as a winner of this historic first challenge. So, read on for the 5 Statements, and post your answers in the comments section (along with any remarks you want to make–but please, no attempts to deliberately mislead other respondents). Then, tune in next Thursday, when the correct answers will be revealed, and the 25 winners of this valuable prize will be announced (if there are any). Statement No. 1 Obesity causes health risks, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Statement No. 2 People with a BMI in the “normal” range have a lower risk of mortality than those in higher (or lower) BMI ranges. Statement No.3 Losing weight will definitely reduce your risks of health problems and premature death. Statement No. 4 As long as it is not taken to extremes, dieting is a safe, proven, and effective weight loss method. Statement No. 5 The two most effective motivations for losing weight are fear of the health risks caused by obesity, and the desire to conform to social standards regarding body size, shape, and appearance. OK, those are the 5 statements. Enter your True or False responses in the comments section, and be sure to include the number of the statement along with your T or F. And don't forget to look for the results next Thursday. |
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