Obesity is commonly characterized by an excess of fat in the body. Obesity is observed to pass in families, but it’s not established that this is due to genetics. The problem is usually caused by the excess of calories taken with food that is simply more than the body needs for actual daily activities. Excessive weight raises the risk of developing other serious health problems such as hypertension, diabetes, heart diseases and other problems. Obesity has also been linked to strokes and specific types of cancer that ultimately lead to death. And the biggest problem with obesity is that it is becoming a problem throughout the whole world. It’s not a matter of image or how you look – being overweight is a very serious health issue that has to be dealt with. There are different rates at which people gain excessive weight. But the fact is that in the US alone obesity causes 300,000 deaths per year and people with a BMI over 30 are at a greater risk of fatal incidents.

Obesity is a health problem that should be addressed with much attention. However, it is still taken with prejudice by people no suffering from it. And there are widespread myths that are linked to obesity and people living with it that plague the modern society. Here are some things you have definitely heard about obesity:

The first myth is that obese people have weight problems simply because they do not attempt to lose weight at all. Of course, proper diet and physical activity can reduce the risk of developing obesity, but these are just some of the factors contributing to the problem, as there are more elements that have to be considered.

The second common belief is that obesity is only spread in welfare countries with excess of food and erroneous lifestyle, while in developing countries there’s no such thing as obesity. Fact is that even in poor countries with general nutrition problems in the population there are cases of obesity as well.

The third myth tells that obesity is linked to early death and is a very serious health problem. Of course, it is a major health concern and should be treated in any case. But the numerous studies have shown that underweight people have higher death risk than moderately obese persons.

The fourth myth says that weight gain in women is a natural process of maturity and there’s nothing to worry about. In reality, a mild weight gain with a couple of pounds can really be natural, especially after childbirth. However, if you gain 20 pounds, especially in a short time, it’s not natural and you should do something about it.

The fifth myth is that obesity should be treated only with rapid weight loss. While being partially true, this myth is supported by Phentermine and other weight loss drugs. Loosing weight too fast, especially when you’re in the obesity and overweight category, raises the risk of developing gallstones and other health problems. Of course, drugs like Phentermine can help you with your weight loss efforts, but it’s not smart to aim for significant weight loss in a short time. This should be a gradual and long term process in order to assure that your body doesn’t get too much stress.