The ‘Big Boned’ Myth: Why Believing It Can Harm Your Health

You’ve probably heard the term, and if you haven’t, it probably doesn’t make much sense.  Sure, it’s true that we all have different frames and bone sizes and densities, but do those differences actually explain weight differences? According to science, no. In fact, even people with very large bone structures cannot attribute excessive weight to their bones. What contributes most to your body weight is the fat accumulation around the bones, not the bones themselves. Unfortunately, the myth of ‘big-boned’ continues to this day, leading to many unhealthy habits, practices, and lifestyles among the overweight.  Let’s cover some of the major misconceptions and what can be done to address them. Bone Size and Bone Density Again, individual skeletal structures can vary. But even when they vary a lot, this difference does not account for significant weight differences. That said, some body types do tend to put on weight in certain areas more, so that’s where the focus should be. So forget the ‘big-boned’ excuse. If anything, the blame can be put on metabolic factors, lifestyle choices, and other genetics, but squarely resting the blame on the bones is simply silly.  Unfortunately, when people do this, they’re basically rationalizing obesity and...