E-Quad News: Check Up On Health Headlines
This article was first pulished on www.e-quadnews.com.
Check Up On Health Headlines
Health sections and media outlets are increasing the frequency of headlines touting health “proofing”, research claims, and blaring dire “health warnings.” If all these headlines were based on sound science, we might have scientific grounds for proclaiming chocolate bars are the new healthy vegetable. We might even believe that exercise is the cure all – for one and all. Unfortunately, real scientific and medial research is often treated with same sensationalized sound byte tactics as infomercials. Today’s Tip: Avoid jumping on the junk science bandwagon, even if the health headline is in one of your favorite news or life style publications. We suggest four sound steps to take you behind the scenes of today’s health headlines. Always avoid any major changes of direction without discussing it with your doctor.
This item was published in a major life-style magazine.
“Just working out 15 minutes a day, three days a week may reduce the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by 30 to 40 percent, according to a study last year in the Annals of Internal Medicine.”
How to Check Out Health Headlines
1. Find the foundation
2. Apply the time test
3. Question motives
4. Delve into the details.
Find the Foundation: The medical foundation might be mythical if the research source isn’t listed. If it is listed, head online to find the same study on the organization’s site or the full story in the journal. Many studies and articles are available online in full and abstract formats.
Apply the Time Test: One study does not make sound science. Medical experts build learning over time, repeating studies and expanding populations. It’s best to be cautious. Did other studies confirm or have conflicting findings?
Question Motives: Who sponsored the research? Could this finding benefit their sponsor’s product or personal agenda? The pressure to publish is very strong in academia.
Delve into Details: Read the small print at the bottom of the study. How many participants were in the study? Were there follow-ups over time? What happened to people with similar demographics that didn’t take the pill or didn’t do the exercise? You will find that the full findings have many more cautions and comparisons that the news or feature article included.
Following Four Steps We Found...
“Just working out 15 minutes a day, three days a week may reduce the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by 30 to 40 percent, according to a study last year in the Annals of Internal Medicine.”
1. Find the foundation.
We were able to do that. A few seconds online provided the original article in the Annals Of Internal Medicine.
2. Apply the time test.
It seems to pass the test of time. Participants were studied every two years for over 6 years. Researchers evaluated participants every 2 years to determine if they had developed dementia by using a standard set of examinations done by physicians, nurses, and a neurophysiologist.
They weren’t alone in their findings. Other long term studies are referenced.
3. Question motives
The foundation findings also provided the sponsor information. Study was paid for by a grant from the National Institute of Aging.
4. Delve into details.
Did they fudge the facts? The lifestyle article definitely streamlined, simplified, and expanded the results. We found the study limitations listed in the details and they were clearly and fully explained. The study results never said “by 30 to 40 percent.” It said 13 out of 1000 regularly exercisers developed dementia compared to 19.7 out of 1000 of those who exercised less than three times weekly. That is not 30 to 40 percent.
Demographics: The study participants were predominantly white males with insurance, living in the Seattle area. Definitions & self reporting: The ‘just three days a week” and the “15 minutes” a day is an over simplification, too. The study was measuring “regular exercise” and researchers defined regular exercise as 3 days a week and a minimum of 15 minutes. And they didn’t really know if the participants actually exercised as reported. The study relied on the participants self reporting their exercise. It’s possible the participant actually did less or more exercise than was reported.
Reading media headlines skeptically, checking for facts, and following the four steps can be beneficial to our health.
© 2007 Florence News reprint permission to Billy Florence Team Dream Chasers site.
Check Up On Health Headlines
Health sections and media outlets are increasing the frequency of headlines touting health “proofing”, research claims, and blaring dire “health warnings.” If all these headlines were based on sound science, we might have scientific grounds for proclaiming chocolate bars are the new healthy vegetable. We might even believe that exercise is the cure all – for one and all. Unfortunately, real scientific and medial research is often treated with same sensationalized sound byte tactics as infomercials. Today’s Tip: Avoid jumping on the junk science bandwagon, even if the health headline is in one of your favorite news or life style publications. We suggest four sound steps to take you behind the scenes of today’s health headlines. Always avoid any major changes of direction without discussing it with your doctor.
This item was published in a major life-style magazine.
“Just working out 15 minutes a day, three days a week may reduce the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by 30 to 40 percent, according to a study last year in the Annals of Internal Medicine.”
How to Check Out Health Headlines
1. Find the foundation
2. Apply the time test
3. Question motives
4. Delve into the details.
Find the Foundation: The medical foundation might be mythical if the research source isn’t listed. If it is listed, head online to find the same study on the organization’s site or the full story in the journal. Many studies and articles are available online in full and abstract formats.
Apply the Time Test: One study does not make sound science. Medical experts build learning over time, repeating studies and expanding populations. It’s best to be cautious. Did other studies confirm or have conflicting findings?
Question Motives: Who sponsored the research? Could this finding benefit their sponsor’s product or personal agenda? The pressure to publish is very strong in academia.
Delve into Details: Read the small print at the bottom of the study. How many participants were in the study? Were there follow-ups over time? What happened to people with similar demographics that didn’t take the pill or didn’t do the exercise? You will find that the full findings have many more cautions and comparisons that the news or feature article included.
Following Four Steps We Found...
“Just working out 15 minutes a day, three days a week may reduce the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by 30 to 40 percent, according to a study last year in the Annals of Internal Medicine.”
1. Find the foundation.
We were able to do that. A few seconds online provided the original article in the Annals Of Internal Medicine.
2. Apply the time test.
It seems to pass the test of time. Participants were studied every two years for over 6 years. Researchers evaluated participants every 2 years to determine if they had developed dementia by using a standard set of examinations done by physicians, nurses, and a neurophysiologist.
They weren’t alone in their findings. Other long term studies are referenced.
3. Question motives
The foundation findings also provided the sponsor information. Study was paid for by a grant from the National Institute of Aging.
4. Delve into details.
Did they fudge the facts? The lifestyle article definitely streamlined, simplified, and expanded the results. We found the study limitations listed in the details and they were clearly and fully explained. The study results never said “by 30 to 40 percent.” It said 13 out of 1000 regularly exercisers developed dementia compared to 19.7 out of 1000 of those who exercised less than three times weekly. That is not 30 to 40 percent.
Demographics: The study participants were predominantly white males with insurance, living in the Seattle area. Definitions & self reporting: The ‘just three days a week” and the “15 minutes” a day is an over simplification, too. The study was measuring “regular exercise” and researchers defined regular exercise as 3 days a week and a minimum of 15 minutes. And they didn’t really know if the participants actually exercised as reported. The study relied on the participants self reporting their exercise. It’s possible the participant actually did less or more exercise than was reported.
Reading media headlines skeptically, checking for facts, and following the four steps can be beneficial to our health.
© 2007 Florence News reprint permission to Billy Florence Team Dream Chasers site.
Labels: Billy Florence
posted by Billy Florence at
8:37 PM
