9 Biggest Health Myths Uncovered

Posted on August 09, 2018

‘Coffee dehydrates you’ and ‘drink 8 glasses of water a day’ are just a couple of the many health myths that people tend to recite with confidence. But which health myths do Americans truly believe in? And which generation is most likely to believe them?

To answer these questions, our independent marketing team surveyed a sample of Americans on some of the most common health myths that seem to persist across our nation.

Is Cholesterol bad for you? Not necessarily, the ratio of HDL to LDL is what’s important for your health. 67% of Generation X respondents believe this health myth as compared to just 38% of Baby Boomer respondents.

Do drinks like coffee dehydrate you? No, a cup of coffee’s water content essentially offsets the coffee’s dehydrating effects. Overall, the majority of each generation of respondents agreed this health myth was false. However, 28% of Millenial respondents reported they believe the myth is true.

Does wet hair and cold weather cause colds? Not directly. When it’s cold outside, people tend to spend more time inside where air is recycled. Recycled air leaves people more vulnerable to germs from other sick people. 63% of Millenial respondents reported they believe this myth as compared to just 32% of Baby Boomer respondents.

Is Gluten Free healthy? Going gluten-free is only good for your health if you have a gluten intolerance or celiac disease. Otherwise, a gluten-free diet will not provide any health benefits. 63% of Millenial respondents reported believing this myth as compared to just 36% of Baby Boomer respondents.

Will weight training make you bulk up instead of lose weight? No. Weight training leads to greater muscle tone and more effective weight loss.The majority of each generation of respondents agreed this myth is false.

Are you more likely to gain weight if you eat a snack before going to bed? Not really. Your caloric intake will be the same regardless of when you eat. 89% of Baby Boomer respondents believe this health myth as compared to 78% of Generation X respondents.

Vaccinations absolutely do not cause autism and the majority of the generations do not believe this health myth.

Can you get the flu from the flu vaccine? It is almost impossible. Only 14% of Millennial and Generation X respondents and 9% of Baby Boomer respondents believe this health myth.

Sitting for an extended period of time does not present the same health risks as smoking. The majority of employees with 8-hour-per-day desk jobs remain healthy so long as they are otherwise living an active lifestyle. The majority of each generation of respondents reported they believe this health myth.

So which generation of respondents was the least likely to fall for these health myths? A solid 78% of Baby Boomer respondents knew which myths were bogus as compared to 62% of Generation X respondents and 58% of Millenial respondents.

DISCLAIMER

The information and statistics displayed above are merely averages and are solely designed to provide general knowledge to the public. They are being used as a part of attorney marketing and have been gathered and designed by an independent marketing firm. Cited statistics and statements were taken from various independent medical websites. Weiss & Paarz did not take any steps to replicate the findings of any of the sources used in this infographic, nor were the numbers or results displayed above independently verified by Weiss & Paarz.