Issue date: 2/25/08 Section: Money/Health

There is no such thing as an easy way
to lose weight.
Fact. Nothing could be closer to the truth. Fines have been levied against diet pills that claim to have the quick fix. "There is no magic fix," said Jeremy Koerber, lead exercise specialist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. "It's called work. (That person in that ad) didn't get that body in 20 minutes a day, three days a week. It's just not possible."

Low-fat always means low calories.
Myth. If you see the word "low" on the label, that's your clue to look a little further, suggested dietitian Susan Moores of Minneapolis. Check for serving size and the number of calories on the Nutrition Facts label. Low-fat foods often contain the same amount or even more calories than regular versions.
That's particularly true for fat-free foods. If fat is taken out, something else is put back in and that's often sugar. Some studies suggest that snacks with low-fat labels simply entice you to indulge, so you end up eating more calories than if you selected the regular version.

If you don't have time to get in the government's
recommended 30 to 90 minutes of exercise a day, you shouldn't bother.
Myth. The truth is, anything you can do will be beneficial. Studies have shown even splitting up those 30 minutes into 10-minute segments is good for you.

Weightlifting makes women big and bulky.
Myth. "That's just not true," said Chris Hoover, fitness supervisor at the Jewish Community Center in St. Louis, Mo. "Unless they are using steroids, it's not going to happen." He said many women are so afraid of this that they lift weights that are too light to properly tone and strengthen their bodies.

-Source: Chicago Tribune, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Health Myths Exposed! is a bi-weekly feature highlighting common health and fitness misconceptions compiled by Money/Health editor Tara Bannow.

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