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In PHOTO: Cadets for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point class of 2018 participate in physical exercises during Reception Day in West Point, New York July 2, 2014. During Reception Day, the new cadets begin the process of becoming West Point cadets and future U.S. Army officers. They undergo administrative processing, fittings for their initial issue of military clothing, receive haircuts, medical and physical evaluations and begin their first lessons in marching, military courtesy and discipline. Reuters

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), nearly 2.8 million people die every year as a result of being overweight or obese. The WHO defines being overweight and obese as a condition in which there is an abnormal or excessive fat accumulation in the body that may cause health problems. Most people who are overweight know that they need to lose weight and they learn about fitness routines and diets. With more and more diets and fitness routines in the market that promise fast weight loss, several facts about weight loss are being distorted.

There are several myths about weight loss as well and wrong facts that have done the rounds since long.

Carbohydrates make you put on weight

High protein, low carb diets are no doubt doing the rounds and are giving effective weight loss results. But the National Health Service states that the common notion that carbohydrates contribute to weight gain and must be eliminated completely from the diet is wrong. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine said that the low-carb, Atkins diet, caused weight loss not because they ate less carbohydrates but because they ate less on the whole. The NHS recommended that whole grain and whole meal carbohydrates such as brown rice and whole meal bread must be consumed and fried starchy foods must be avoided for weight loss. The problem is not carbohydrates, but the kind of carbs you choose to eat.

Eating before going to bed is bad

There is a common belief that eating just before you go to bed, contributes to weight gain. Liz Weinandy, a registered dietitian told US News that it is not so. Liz works with The Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center. She stated that it is not when you eat but what you eat that matters. She pointed that there was no real evidence to prove that eating before going to bed causes weight gain. Eating ice creams and cookies rich in calories may not be a good idea, she stated. One must think of the calories and eat healthy.

Slimming pills help reduce weight in the long run

The NHS states that such pills should be taken only when prescribed by the doctor. It does not help lose weight in the long run. Nikhil Dhurandhar, an obesity researcher at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, La., said that weight loss stops after six months as the body gets used to it.

Starving yourself and skipping meals help lose weight

Skipping meals and starving yourself will do only harm, the NHS states. It leads to fatigue and poor nutrition. A body low on energy is most likely to consume calorie-rich sugary foods that will contribute to weight gain.

A strict diet will help you keep off the fat

Randi Konikoff Beranbaum, RD, with the School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, told WebMD that the belief that a harsh diet will lead to weight loss is wrong.

Lola O'Rourke, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, suggests that a moderate approach must be adopted. O'Rourke advised that giving in to craving sometimes in small amounts is good. She states following a strict diet and denying your craving will lead to overeating in the future.