10 weight-loss myths you need to stop believing

Chances are you've heard a lot of conflicting information in your lifetime about the best ways to lose weight. The thing is, it can be really difficult to separate fact from fiction—and that poses a big challenge for anyone trying to lose weight and improve their overall health.

TikTok, Twitter, and the nichest corners of Reddit threads have given people unlimited access to information about weight loss. That democratization is a double-edged sword. “The loudest person in the room gets heard, even if that information is not based in fact. This has very much happened in the world of internet weight loss, where, unfortunately, your body can become your ‘business card’—and anyone can claim they are a ‘nutritionist’ or weight loss expert,” says Michelle Cardel, Ph.D., R.D., the senior director of global clinical research and nutrition at WeightWatchers®.

So how can you separate weight-loss myths from truths when countless rumors swirl? Science has entered the chat.

Myth 1:

Reality check: There is no weight-loss benefit to missing your meal in the morning—or at noon, if that's when you rise. That's true even if you believe eating early makes you hungrier. What research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows is that whether you eat or skip breakfast, it doesn’t make a difference for weight loss.

However, digging into something hearty and healthy in the a.m. comes with an additional side of benefits, according to a 2022 study in the journal Cell Metabolism. Skipping breakfast and eating a late dinner (around 9pm) was linked to higher hunger levels and lower average calorie burn throughout the day.

RELATED: 16 simple weight-loss tips from people who’ve lost more than 100 pounds

Myth 2:

Reality check: That 9 p.m. dinner isn’t the villain. As a general rule, “what you eat, not when, makes the difference," says Jim White, R.D., a registered dietitian in Virginia Beach, Virginia. "Calories have the same effect on the body no matter when they are consumed."

That said, your hormones related to weight regulation do fluctuate throughout the day, which can make a different in how food is metabolized. An example of this in action: A study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that night shift workers are more prone to weight gain than day shift workers, even if eating the same foods.

Another rub of late-night eating is that people often engage in "the mindless type of eating" in front of the TV, says Lona Sandon, Ph.D., RDN, American Dietetic Association (ADA) spokesperson and an associate professor of nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, Texas. This can throw a previously well-balanced day off course.

RELATED: Is eating late bad for you?

Myth 3:

Reality check: Not to discredit the role water can play in improving health, but it just isn't the liquid magic bullet some claim it to be for weight loss.

Drinking a glass of water before eating a meal can be a useful mindfulness trick, Sandon admits, and hydration is very important for overall health. Still, "there is no science at all that backs up that drinking more water makes you lose weight," Sandon says of this common weight-loss myth.

Pay attention to drinking more, and you'll likely be better in tune with what and how much you eat, though. This forces you to slow down as you dine; a helpful strategy to aid in your ability to notice signs of fullness.

Eating low-calorie foods that are loaded with water, such as fruits, vegetables, and broths, also counts towards hydration goals and can help you feel fuller longer. In addition, substituting water for sugar-packed sodas and alcoholic drinks will help in terms of your overall calorie consumption level as well.

RELATED: Why you should drink a glass of water right now

Myth 4:

Reality check: Celery, cabbage, coffee, grapefruit, cinnamon—all ingredients that have been trotted out as fat-burners. All lacking any evidence to support the claims. “Celery has no magic power. There's nothing magical about grapefruit that burns fat from the body," says Sandon.

Are these foods loaded with nutrients? Yes. Are these foods healthy additions to your diet? Absolutely. Will they guarantee weight loss? No. The overall goal, though, is to land at a colorful, variety-packed meal plan that you can stick with for a lifetime. And remember, weight loss alone is not the goal, it's achieving overall health and wellness.

Myth 5:

Reality check: Research shows that frozen and canned produce can pack as much nutrition as fresh. Canned tomatoes "are sometimes better nutrition choices," White says, because the body absorbs lycopene more easily after the plump red fruit has been processed.

Plus, frozen fruits and vegetables are often put on ice soon after being picked and frozen at their peak of ripeness; which means you score more micronutrients per bite.

Choosing canned, fresh, or frozen isn’t as important as remembering to choose a rainbow variety of fruits and veggies.

RELATED: Don't fear frozen vegetables

Myth 6:

Reality check: Someone in Silicon Valley is probably trying to change this, but right now we do not have omnipotent control over our bodies. Sometimes we get sick. Or tired. Or we trip while walking across the street and hope no one sees. (It’s your fault, foot!)

For weight loss, eating healthier and moving more works for some people—the data from our clinical trials and others demonstrates behavioral weight management programs like WeightWatchers produce clinically significant weight loss. But it doesn’t always work and it's certainly not because people lack willpower. It is because obesity is, “a chronic disease that’s much more complicated than being the result of eating too much or moving too little,” says Cardel.

While our bodies naturally regulate our weight, many factors can disrupt this process, such as hormones, genetics, environment, socioeconomic status, and more. And if these factors are dysregulated, your best effort—a.k.a all the willpower in the world—may not be enough. Also, news flash, not everyone's ideal weight is the same. It's why more and more focus is being put on weight health, or the impact your weight is having on your health and well-being, as opposed to the number on the scale.

“Obesity should be treated just like any other chronic disease, with evidence-based, long-term care and treatment,” adds Cardel. “Depending on a variety of factors, that treatment may incorporate a lifestyle program like WeightWatchers, medication, and/or surgical options.”

Myth 7:

Reality check: There is no scientific evidence to support the use of over-the-counter or homemade detoxes,according to a 2015 review of existing research on detox diets published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. And the same holds true for any “skinny” supplements.

Even though some alleged experts claim that you need to “detoxify” your body from things like the build-up of pollutants, excess processed foods, and chemicals in your home, your liver, kidneys, lymphatic system, and gastrointestinal tract already “cleanse” the body on their own. (Learn more as we answer everything you need to know about juice diets.)

“The human body is designed to ‘detox’ itself on its own. Cleanses and juice detoxes are very low in calories, and do not provide enough nutrients for good health. While a cleanse may help someone lose weight in the short-term since they are not consuming enough calories, this approach doesn’t result in long-term weight loss, nor does it teach them sustainable healthy habits,” Cardel says.

Similarly, there are many supplements advertised as “fat-burning,” including teas or diet supplements. Both the aforementioned detox potions and these supplements are not regulated (or proven safe to consume) by the FDA, Cardel advises, “so be sure to check with your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement, especially ones that promise to ‘burn fat,’” which can be dangerous.

RELATED: 9 unhealthy fad diets you should never try

Myth 8:

Reality check: If you like three solid meals a day and feel energized by that agenda, great! But if you notice yourself dragging at 3pm, no need to hold out for dinner.

“Cutting out all snacks may actually backfire on a weight-loss journey. Snacks can prevent people from getting too hungry in between meals, which may reduce overeating at the next meal,” Cardel says.

A 2016 review in the journal Advances in Nutrition found no correlation between the number of daily snacks and weight. Plus, if you select your snacks wisely—packed with fiber, healthy fats, and protein—you’ll be able to boost your energy levels and vitamin and mineral intake all at once.

Every human is different. Eating at a frequency that honors your hunger signals is important for your nourishment, weight, and overall health.

Myth 9:

Myth 10: