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🎯 Main Points

Diet Myths

PSY408 - Health Psychology

🔑 Key Definitions

Energy Balance: Relationship between calories consumed and calories burned
Fad Diet: Popular but unproven diet often promising quick results
Calorie: Unit of energy from food

🧠 Common Diet Myths (FALSE!)

  • Myth: High-protein/low-carb diets are healthy long-term
  • Myth: Starches are fattening
  • Myth: Some foods burn fat
  • Myth: Natural/herbal products are always safe
  • Myth: You can eat anything and lose weight
  • Myth: Low-fat means no calories
  • Myth: All fast food is unhealthy
  • Myth: Skipping meals helps weight loss
  • Myth: Eating after 8pm causes weight gain

📊 Truths About Diet (TRUE!)

  • Truth: Nuts can be healthy (in moderation)
  • Truth: Lean red meat can be part of healthy diet
  • Truth: Low-fat dairy is nutritious
  • Truth: Calories matter regardless of food type

🛠 The Energy Balance Formula

  • Calories IN > Calories OUT = Weight GAIN
  • Calories IN < Calories OUT = Weight LOSS
  • Calories IN = Calories OUT = Weight MAINTENANCE

💡 Exam Tips

  • Energy balance is the FUNDAMENTAL truth of weight control
  • NO magic foods that burn fat
  • "Natural" does NOT equal safe
  • Meal TIMING doesn't matter - TOTAL calories do
  • Skipping meals often backfires (leads to overeating later)
  • Low-fat products often have added SUGAR