We've heard advice about how to lose weight our whole lives. But how many of those suggestions are scientifically valid?
Research on diet and exercise can be difficult to make sense of because many studies don't represent real life. In those that do, it can be hard to understand exactly which behavior is causing a given effect.
Oftentimes, studies include specific groups instead of a representative sample, rely on unreliable self-reporting of results, and last only a short amount of time.
Relying on a single study for guidance on weight loss can be a bit like only listening to one piece of advice your mom gave you — it doesn't tell the whole story. That's where scientific reviews come in: They summarize the evidence on a particular topic.
Some <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/fda-approves-orexigen-diet-pill-contrave-2014-9">weight-loss drugs</a> have been linked to a reduced risk of obesity, but they often have to be taken long-term and combined with a healthy diet and exercise.
Lap-band and similar surgeries have been shown to reduce weight and the risk of diabetes, but only among certain patients.
A combination picture shows Jazmine Raygoza, 17, posing in her backyard June 18, 2011 (L) and again on September 16, 2012 in Denver (R). Jazmine had lost 87 pounds since having a lap-band placed on June 21, 2011. Pictures taken June 18, 2011 (L) and September 16, 2012 (R). REUTERS/Rick Wilking
Rick Wilking/REUTERS
No matter what your weight is, countless studies have shown that <a href="http://www.techinsider.io/scientific-reasons-why-exercise-is-good-for-you-2015-11">exercise is good</a> for your health and well-being.
