You don't have to spend hours out of every day at the gym to see the benefits of exercise, said several Ohio University students in a presentation yesterday called Exercise Myths.
This was just one of the common myths Kelly Ventresco, a senior studying nutrition and dietetics, and first year graduate students Melanee Wood and Amanda Crall debunked as a part of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week at Ping Center.
They also discussed the myth that with the right exercise
you can get rid of trouble spots. The body decides where to store fat and where people lose weight, which both depend on genetics, Crall said. Losing weight and cutting calories is the only way to drop excess fat.
Ventresco also disputed the rumor that restricting caloric intake is the best way to lose weight.
Restricting calories alone or to an extreme will slow down the metabolism making it harder to lose weight Ventresco said. Additional problems will arise when normal eating habits resume.
Shedding pounds alone won't lead to perfect health, Crall said.
Fitness and health isn't just about losing weight; it's about balance
she said. You must take care of yourself not just physically
but mentally and emotionally.
Along with fitness myths, they presented common myths about eating disorders. A common misconception is that only white middle-class females are susceptible to eating disorders.
Eating disorders affect all people of every race
gender and age
Wood said. Each year, over one million men and boys in the U.S. battle the illnesses as well, she added.
Most adolescent girls get their information on women's health issues from the media, Wood said. Media images are among the factors that contribute to the increase of eating disorders.
Ohio University's Counseling and Psychological Services is promoting National Eating Disorder Awareness Week in an effort to increase knowledge about the diseases and how to fight them.
Counseling and Psychological Services is hosting a discussion on how to help a friend with an eating disorder at 7 p.m. tomorrow in Baker Center Theater.
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Culture
Rachel Ferchak
