Where We Are Wrong on Weight Issues

Teen Life     From Ellen Friedrichs, your About Teen Life Editor     A lot of people assume that is someone looks heavier or seems overweight, then that person must automatically be unhealthy. But this is far from the case. Other people who want to lose weight rely on dangerous or ineffective methods. These two problems often stem from a lot of overlapping misconceptions about weight. Here is what you need to know to stay your healthiest self!   Follow us on:     Sign up for more free newsletters: About Today About Parenting About Health   Top 10 Weight Loss Myth Weight loss myths seem to always be around, whether they're on the Web, sent through e-mail or in the latest celebrity magazine. Believing these ideas can cause you more harm than good. Read on to find out the answers behind some of the most popular myths about weight loss. READ NOW   Fat Can Be Friendly! Are you cutting fat from your diet to lose weight? Check this out: A Penn State University study showed that people who included 15% percent more fat in a diet than their study counterparts got the same weight loss results as those eating less fat! While one group consumed a diet comprised of 35% fat, the other's daily menu consisted of 20% fat. At the end of the study, both groups had lost similar amounts of weight. READ NOW   Is Being A Little Overweight Really OK? The BMI Controversy Most people know that people who are extremely obese have a greatly increased risk of cardiovascular disease and people who are underweight also have an increased risk of health risks. If there is a controversy it centers around individuals who are classed as overweight, but not obese. Some studies show a slightly lower risk for these individuals. READ NOW   What is the ABSI Scale? While ABSI helps create a more complete picture of fat distribution and how it may contribute to overall health risks, even it isn't a perfect determinant of who will develop heart disease, diabetes, or hypertension. So try not to put too much stock in meeting a certain number. READ NOW   ADVERTISEMENT Featured Articles The Best Books About Friendship The Best Halloween Costumes for Groups How to Get Sex Ed in Your School 4 Signs That Your Friendship Is Ending When Is It Okay To Fart In A Relationship? 5 Ways to Get Distance from Your Parents More from About.com Sign up for Shareables! An every-morning rundown of the day in history, with headlines and trends produced by your pals at About.com. Click here to sign up! It's free (of course) and we think you'll like it! Want More From About.com? Check out our social channels tailored to every interest! Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Teen Life newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here. If you would like to unsubscribe from all newsletters sent from About.com, please send an email to optout@about.com with "Unsubscribe" as the subject line. Contact Information: 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10036 Privacy Policy © 2014 About.com