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Access through your institution Buy or subscribe Sometimes, we all miss the point. Inductive reasoning enables satisfying calls for broad sweeping action that fit with our preconceptions.
Knowing the point, on the other hand, constrains us to the topic at hand. What is the point? For a scientific journal, the point should be about the scientific method applied within the
field of study. Karl Popper and others would argue the point of science is to falsify claims. Thus, the scientific method only offers proof that an idea is wrong, but cannot prove another
untested idea is correct. Research discussed in this issue of the _International Journal of Obesity_ (_IJO_) has shown that accurate self-assessment of overweight status does not predict
better obesity outcomes.1 Rather, those with ignorance of their overweight status did better. Although this does not answer whether information about weight status causes obesity, it still
falsifies the claim that body weight misperception is a widespread obesity risk factor. This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution ACCESS OPTIONS Access through
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Read our FAQs * Contact customer support REFERENCES * Robinson E, Hunger JM, Daly M . Perceived weight status and risk of weight gain across life in US and UK adults. _Int J Obes_ 2015; 39:
1721–1726. Article CAS Google Scholar * Robinson E, Hayes A, Sutin AR, Daly M . Telling people they are overweight: helpful, harmful or beside the point? _Int J Obesity_ (in press). *
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Article Google Scholar * Cobb LK, Appel LJ, Franco M, Jones‐Smith JC, Nur A, Anderson CA . The relationship of the local food environment with obesity: a systematic review of methods,
study quality, and results. _Obesity_ 2015; 23: 1331–1344. Article Google Scholar * Voss JD, Ruiz SA, Clark LL . _Perspective: Some Causal and Priority Language about Food Energy Supply as
the Sufficient Cause of the Obesity Pandemic is Premature or Incorrect_. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine: Wright-Patterson AFB, USA, 2016. Report No. AFRL-SA-WP-SR-2016-0015.
Available at: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD1023769. Google Scholar * O'Brien PE, MacDonald L, Anderson M, Brennan L, Brown WA . Long-term outcomes after bariatric surgery:
fifteen-year follow-up of adjustable gastric banding and a systematic review of the bariatric surgical literature. _Ann Surg_ 2013; 257: 87–94. Article Google Scholar * Kritchevsky SB,
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Article Google Scholar Download references ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The views expressed in this article are ours and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Air Force,
the Department of Defense, the US Government, or any other institution. Cleared, 88PA, Case # 2017–1173, 21 Mar 2017. AUTHOR INFORMATION Author notes * Twitter:@JamesonVoss AUTHORS AND
AFFILIATIONS * Epidemiology Consult Service Division, United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA J D Voss Authors * J D Voss View author publications
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to J D Voss. ETHICS DECLARATIONS COMPETING INTERESTS The author declare no conflict of
interest. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Voss, J. On food supply and obesity, missing the point is easy. _Int J Obes_ 41, 1169–1170
(2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2017.101 Download citation * Published: 26 April 2017 * Issue Date: August 2017 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2017.101 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you
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