November 26, 2025
Madhura Mohan
Widespread Misconceptions About Obesity – What You Need To Know
E
nter a space with individuals and you will see it: unspoken labels floating above individuals: lazy, thoughtless, undisciplined. Now step back. What if the labels were false?
Being obese is not a matter of "too much food" or "not enough movement" issue, but rather a condition influenced by genetics, hormones, stress, sleep and environment. We are aware of the misconceptions, but misconceptions do not just hurt feelings, they also affect health care, and even self-worth.
Let us clarify a few points:
Obesity is not a choice – It’s a medical condition, not a moral failing.
It's not just about calories - Your biology and mental health matter too.
It's not just about looks- It is tied to some serious health risks.
Shame does not heal - Stigma pushes people away from the care they need.
This is the truth - obesity is a human issue, not a morality issue. The question is not "Why don't people lose weight?" It is "Why don't we lose the myths holding us back?
Because, when we prioritize understanding over judgement, we do not just change the conversation - we change lives.
Breaking Down the Myths: Obesity Beyond the Headlines
We've all come across the quick fixes: "Just eat less." "Go to the gym." "It's just willpower." Yet the thing about those lines is they oversimplify a complex condition that is far from simple.
Obesity is a chronic, multifactorial condition. Genetic factors, hormones, the environment, stress, sleep, and medication all contribute. When our response is to minimize it by labelling it as due to “bad habits,” we miss the point. Even worse, we stigmatize people who need understanding over judgment.
Myth 1: It’s a Choice
This is one of the harmful misunderstandings there is. The concept of "chosen" obesity, meaning people choose obesity gives rise to an understanding of a complicated state to willpower. Genetics, hormones, medications, and even gut microbiota are in play. The concept of obesity as a choice creates even more stigma and shame. People end up internalizing guilt rather than seeking medical help. The reality is very simple: obesity is not related to personality. It is a condition requiring compassion and evidence-based interventions.
Myth 2: People with Obesity Are Lazy
This is probably the largest and most damaging myth. The stereotype that people with obesity are lazy or lack willpower is untrue and ultimately harmful. Many people with obesity are active and hardworking. Some of them even exercise regularly, eat well-balanced meals, and simply have difficulty losing or maintaining their weight due to factors beyond their control, including genetics, hormonal deficiencies, or metabolic variations.
To identify someone as "lazy" ignores the science, and the lack of understanding leads to moral judgment. Even worse, it perpetuates stigma and causes shame and discrimination. It’s like telling an asthmatic individual that they are "lazy breathers." That is what we do as a society when we call someone with obesity lazy.
Myth 3: It’s All About Calories
The phrase “eat less, move more” reduces biological processes to a mere mathematical equation. Metabolism is not a calculator. It is regulated by age, hormones, sleep, and stress levels. Individuals may eat the same meal but burn calories differently.
Mental health also plays a role. Depression, anxiety, and chronic stress can change our eating habits or patterns of eating. Oftentimes, medications for health diagnoses will affect weight and body composition. Calories are important to understand, but they are not the whole story.
Myth 4: It’s Only About Looks
This myth minimizes obesity to the realm of appearance. Actually, obesity is associated with type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, some specific cancers, obstructive sleep apnea, and depression. Lounging about as though it is a matter of appearance, only delays getting care and minimizes urgency. Ultimately, it isn’t any different than if someone had high blood pressure, and we said, "It's fine, they look fine"? We don’t do it right? We suggest and seek medical intervention. Obesity deserves similar care and attention too.
Myth 5: Children Will Grow Out of It
Parents sometimes want their child to “slim down” as they grow older. However, this rarely occurs and for many children with obesity, it is not likely they will simply “grow out of it.” Obesity, from childhood to adulthood, can lead to lifelong health risks. Intervention works. Balanced nutrition, encourage active play, a supportive home and community will create a solution. Avoid waiting—this may deepen the risks.
Myth 6: Surgery Is the Only Solution
Bariatric surgery can be transformational, but it’s not the only option for treating obesity. Obesity treatment is multifaceted: treatment modalities include lifestyle modifications, pharmacotherapy, behavioural interventions, and community engagement. Surgery is just one tool, not a default treatment answer.
Myth 7: Shame Motivates Change
This is not only untrue, but it is also damaging. Studies show that stigma and shame worsen outcomes. Stigmatized individuals access treatment less often, engage in disordered eating patterns more frequently, and generally become worse off medically. Shame does not heal; it harms. On the other hand, kindness, encouragement, and progressive and accessible healthcare produce better results.
Myth 8: It’s Purely Personal
Obesity is perceived as an individual problem, but everyone should agree that it’s a public health issue. The food system, urban infrastructure, place in society, and access to healthcare contributes to obesity.
By framing obesity as simply an issue of personal responsibility, we are both accepting and reinforcing the systemic changes that need to be made to address obesity, including nutrition programming in our schools (for both children and parents), wellness programming in the workplace, equitable healthcare access.
Why Misconceptions Stick
So, what accounts for the endurance of these myths, despite the fact that scientists erroneously believe them to be true?
• They are easily repeatable. The simple phrase "eat less, move more" does not consider biology.
• They are located within our culture. The mass media have shaped the perception of obesity as a personal failure, rather than as a health condition.
• They are emotionally laden. The stigma of obesity allows people to believe that shame is a motivator for losing weight, rather than a barrier.
• They are validated through policy and media. Diet commercials, "before and after" images, and oversimplified headlines cause these myths to persist.
Consider the following example: In the case of an individual unable to breathe with asthma, did we ever say, "Just try harder." Yet we do so with obesity.
Call to Action
Obesity is more than a health issue—it’s a discourse that we must transform. The myths that we repeat don’t just mislead; they injure. Below are some of the ways to be an ally:
• Confront stereotypes whenever you hear them. Substitute truth for judgment.
• Disburse knowledge—discuss obesity as a condition instead of a personal failure.
• Promote compassion—foster environments where people feel safe seeking care.
• Advocate for systemic change—work towards health-supporting schools, workplaces, and communities.
Every time you choose to practice understanding over stigmatizing, you contribute to writing your own narrative. Each time you hear someone repeat one of these myths, challenge them to speak the truth instead. That is how we create change.
When we let go of the myths, we lift people and that is the real weight loss society needs…
Obesity isn’t a punchline. It’s a challenge we can all meet—with science, compassion, and truth…
Follow our Instagram page for the latest updates: badalkhudko
Leave a comment