Chapter 2-Module 1

Question 1

How do scientists conduct research on nutrition?

Answer 1

They use the scientific method and conduct experiments, often on small rodents like mice. They also may do a population study which collects information about a population, including physical examinations (height, weight) and lifestyle and personal and family medical history.

Question 2

List the basic steps of the scientific method as it relates to nutrition research in general.

Answer 2

• Observe-Observe something that may have been impacted by nutrition
• Develop a question-based on the previous observation
• Test-Perform an experiment to test out your question, seeing if there’s any validity to your claim. These tests have to be controlled experiments so that the data is accurate.
• Collect information-Collect the findings and data found from the experiment
• Analyze the findings-May involve comparing the experimental group to the unchanged group
• Form Conclusions-Form a conclusion based on the findings, which will now answer the original question
• Share the results-Prepare an article that will then be peer reviewed and possibly published in a scientific journal
• Conduct more research-More research done to answer original question. Scientists will not accept research as fact unless backed up my other researchers and tests.

Question 3

What is a double-blind study?

Answer 3

A type of clinical trial in which neither the participants nor the researcher knows which treatment or intervention participants are receiving until the clinical trial is over.

Question 4

What are Human Intervention Studies?

Answer 4

Studies where humans are used to obtain information about health conditions that can come from specific diets.

Question 5

Why can there be conflicting research on nutrition?

Answer 5

Researchers may conduct their experiments differently which may result in conflicting data, even if it answers the same question. Things like the type of subjects (age, physical condition), the subjects’ lifestyle, and how much treatment they receive all may be different than a different study or experiment.

Question 6

How can we differentiate what is factual in the face of research bias?

Answer 6

Most peer reviews require researchers to disclose their funding or affiliation. We can take notice of that and decide for ourselves where bias may exist within the research.

Question 7

Lemonade consumption increases in the summer, and drowning deaths also increase in the summer. Does this prove that drinking lemonade increases the risk of drowning?

Answer 7

No, because most population studies cannot prove that one thing causes another. Just because a change occurs doesn’t mean that the two are related. Therefore, it is possible it could have happened by chance.

Question 8

Explain the difference between an anecdote and a testimonial.

Answer 8

While both anecdotes and testimonials involve a story about the product, a testimonial is usually a paid endorsement of the product which may be biased in favor of it.

Question 9

How can we distinguish a science backed article from misinformation?

Answer 9

Popular magazine with health claims typically have more attractive, colorful covers, shorter articles with easy to understand language, and advertisements for products mentioned. Science backed articles typically do not have these.

Question 10

Where does nutrition misinformation stand when it comes to US laws?

Answer 10

US law does not protect consumers from nutrition misinformation because of the First Amendment which allows for free speech. The one thing the US does is protect from false claims on food labels through the FDA, but that is all.

Question 11

What does the FTC do?

Answer 11

The FTC fights for the consumer in the backlash against false claims, but they can’t stop the false claims from being made.

Question 12

Describe how you can become a more careful and critical consumer of nutrition information.

Answer 12

• Don’t believe in everything you hear or read.
• Ask yourself if you should trust the source and why. Investigate source’s motives
• Be wary of salespeople
• Be wary of nutrition “experts”, “scientifically tested”, and journal cited products because all these things can be fabricated

Question 13

Identify common “red flags” that are signs of nutrition misinformation.

Answer 13

• Quick and easy remedies
• Money back guarantees
• Scare tactics
• Superior unconventional practices
• Testimonials
• Single study recommendations
• Overlooking products’ risks
• Disclaimers in the fine print

Question 14

Describe how to identify reliable sources of nutrition information on the Internet.

Answer 14

• Same as before.
• Use multiple sites, especially government sites
• Skeptical of blogs
• Weary of attacks on medical trustworthiness
• Avoids online diagnoses or treatments
• Avoid giving personal information
• Relies on nationally recognized reliable sources

Question 15

Explain how to identify reliable nutrition experts.

Answer 15

• www.quackwatch.org
• search the person online to see if you can find any information that backs up their claims
• Go to Registered Dietitians which you can find locally on nationally recognized online databases (www.eatright.org)