Science Forums 2

[Freethinker]

One of the problems is NOT with SCIENCE itself, but with the funding sources and the media. Often when research is being done, info is "leaked" in order to drum up business or given misleading headlines to sell advertising in the media.

As noted here, there were two studies released RE low carb vs low fat diets. Same studies, yet look at the headlines:

Low-carb Diet More Effective Than Low-fat Diet, According To New Study
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/05/040518073128.htm


Low-carb v. low-fat: No clear loser, studies find
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040518/HLOWCARB18/TPHealth/


At last, scientific proof that the Atkins diet works
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8126-1114710,00.html


Atkins and low-cal diets equal out after a year
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/lifestyle/173727_atkins18.html


Low - carb not a slimmer diet
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2004-05-17-low-carb_x.htm


More distressing than the totally opposite claims made by each media source is how some sources totally ignored what was said in the details of the study report. Notice how these two headlines completely contradict each other. Even though they are about the SAME REPORT.

Study casts doubt on benefits of Atkins diet
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4999116/


Scientists endorse Atkins diet
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3722221.stm


Research into the studies finds:

Of Stern's one-year study, Keith-Thomas Ayoob, associate professor of pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, notes: "[O]n the low-carb diet, the weight began rebounding after six months. As such, if you want to do a study that maximizes results on a low-carb diet, keep the study short."

Even Frederick F. Samaha, author of the second study and chief of cardiology at the VA Medical Center in Philadelphia, agrees the low-carbohydrate diet may not have continued success after one year.

"Patients on the low fat diet continued to slowly lose weight while the low-carb group gained a little weight," notes Samaha. "The low-carbohydrate diet may not be as sustainable."

Further details show:

Yale University nutritionist Dr. David Katz states: "Remember that over the years, we have seen these kinds of benefits, rapid weight loss and improvements to cholesterol on all carbohydrate diets, too. Rice diets and grapefruit diets — all diets work and no diets work."

This is typical of what happens with Scientific research when it gets dumped out of the lab and into the media. Lots of mis-information and confusion. Headlines that are inaccurate and often plain wrong. Add to this the Corporate Machine pressure. Wanting a high ROI ASAP.

So how often is the "problems with science" not actually with SCIENCE, but with the community that surrounds science, the media and the public's ignorance?