The topics of fitness and nutrition tend to be controversial due to the myths that poison the minds of the ill-informed. The majority of those not involved in some type of voluntary physical activity lack proper knowledge in fitness and nutrition. Even a frightening number of people who are involved in fitness believe myths and factoids to be true, including numerous personal trainers, which is scary. A few common topics that are misconceived include weight management, cardio and its effect on muscle, and the spot reduction of fat. The naive nature of society causes these myths to spread like a wildfire, and their stubbornness renders it difficult to feed the correct information to them. Although the general population seems to be slowly becoming
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Spot reduction refers to the fallacy that fat can be specifically targeted for reduction from a fixed region of the body and that this can be attained through the exercise of specific muscles in the selected area, such as exercising the lower body muscles in an attempt to reduce fat around the legs and glutes. In her brief article, Spot Fat Reduction, Carolyn Nickol says that “weight reduction occurs throughout the body, not in specific areas. `Spot reduction` is not possible.” In an article called Spot Reduction Myth, James Griffing states that “Contrary to what the infomercials suggest, there is no such thing as spot reduction. Fat is lost throughout the body in a pattern dependent upon genetics, sex (hormones), and age. Overall body fat must be reduced to lose fat in any particular area.” Targeting a specific area in the body in an attempt to reduce fat in that area by doing exercises like sit-ups, curls, and crunches will only exercise the muscles under the fat. One reason why some believe this myth to be true, is because by working a specific area such as the abdominals, over an extended period of time, the illusion that the area targeted has become leaner has occurred. This is not the result in a loss of fat in the area, but the increase in muscle mass due to the exercise done in that region of the
Spot reduction refers to the fallacy that fat can be specifically targeted for reduction from a fixed region of the body and that this can be attained through the exercise of specific muscles in the selected area, such as exercising the lower body muscles in an attempt to reduce fat around the legs and glutes. In her brief article, Spot Fat Reduction, Carolyn Nickol says that “weight reduction occurs throughout the body, not in specific areas. `Spot reduction` is not possible.” In an article called Spot Reduction Myth, James Griffing states that “Contrary to what the infomercials suggest, there is no such thing as spot reduction. Fat is lost throughout the body in a pattern dependent upon genetics, sex (hormones), and age. Overall body fat must be reduced to lose fat in any particular area.” Targeting a specific area in the body in an attempt to reduce fat in that area by doing exercises like sit-ups, curls, and crunches will only exercise the muscles under the fat. One reason why some believe this myth to be true, is because by working a specific area such as the abdominals, over an extended period of time, the illusion that the area targeted has become leaner has occurred. This is not the result in a loss of fat in the area, but the increase in muscle mass due to the exercise done in that region of the