1. Nutrition in the Media Jen L & Alyssa L Keene State College Dietetic Interns

2. Outline ● Objectives ● Ice breaker ● Today’s topic ● Tips ● Food activity

3. Objectives ● Identify the current problems that arise when nutrition information is delivered via the media ● To have the tools to decipher a credible source vs incredible source ● To understand what is considered “evidence-based” research

4. Ice breaker: Identify the credible source vs. the unreliable source

5. Which is the more credible source? An article entitled “Fat and Cholesterol,” from the Harvard School of Public Health website An article entitled “The Big Fat Truth: Why Nonfat isn’t the Answer,” from Fitnessmagazine.com OR

6. Which is the more credible source? An article entitled “Fat and Cholesterol,” from the Harvard School of Public Health website An article entitled “The Big Fat Truth: Why Nonfat isn’t the Answer,” from Fitnessmagazine.com OR

7. Which is the more credible source? An article entitled “Fat and Cholesterol,” from the Harvard School of Public Health website An article entitled “The Big Fat Truth: Why Nonfat isn’t the Answer,” from Fitnessmagazine.com OR

8. Which is the more credible source? An article entitled “The Basics of Cholesterol,” from webMD.com An article entitled “Top Foods for a Healthy Heart,” from eatright.org OR

9. Which is the more credible source? An article entitled “The Basics of Cholesterol,” from webMD.com An article entitled “Top Foods for a Healthy Heart,” from eatright.org OR

10. Which is the more credible source? An article entitled “The Basics of Cholesterol,” from webMD.com An article entitled “Top Foods for a Healthy Heart,” from eatright.org OR

11. Which is the more credible source? An article entitled “Artificial Sweeteners: Learn the Dangers and Benefits,” from the medicinenet.com An article entitled “Artificial Sweeteners and Other Sugar Substitutes,” from mayoclinic.org OR

12. Which is the more credible source? An article entitled “Artificial Sweeteners: Learn the Dangers and Benefits,” from the medicinenet.com An article entitled “Artificial Sweeteners and Other Sugar Substitutes,” from mayoclinic.org OR

13. Which is the more credible source? An article entitled “Artificial Sweeteners: Learn the Dangers and Benefits,” from the medicinenet.com An article entitled “Artificial Sweeteners and Other Sugar Substitutes,” from mayoclinic.org OR

14. Which is the more credible source? An article entitled “6 Surprising Health Benefits from Coffee,” from mensfitness.com An article entitled “Coffee and Health,” from Harvard School of Public Health OR

15. Which is the more credible source? An article entitled “6 Surprising Health Benefits from Coffee,” from mensfitness.com An article entitled “Coffee and Health,” from Harvard School of Public Health OR

16. Which is the more credible source? An article entitled “6 Surprising Health Benefits from Coffee,” from mensfitness.com An article entitled “Coffee and Health,” from Harvard School of Public Health OR

17. The Problem ● The media often reports results of single studies ● Stories are often chosen simply because they run contrary to current health recommendations ● While the media tries to put things as simply as possible, scientists try to avoid simplification and absolutes ● The term “expert” has been abused ● The media is a commercial enterprise

18. Types of studies ● Smaller studies vs Larger studies ● Reproduced studies ● Size and length of time

19. Evidence-based research ● Has been evaluated in experimental studies ● Evaluations have been subjected to critical peer- review ● Often have findings published in peer-reviewed scientific journals

20. How nutrition research works ● “established relationship” i.e. regular fruit and vegetable consumption and maintained lower blood sugars seen by the DASH diet ● “probable link” i.e. diets rich with fruits and vegetables prevent cancer ● “possible link” i.e. certain types of fruits and vegetables are associated with risk of type 2 diabetes

21. Being a critical reader/viewer Questions to keep in mind when looking into a study’s credibility: ● How does a given study fit into the entire body of evidence on a topic? ● What is the weight of the evidence? ● Is the story reporting results of a single study? ● How large is the study? ● Was the study conducted on animals or humans? ● How was the study funded? ● Is the study valid?

22. 10 Red Flags of Junk Science ● Created by the Food and Nutrition Science Alliance - a partnership of: o The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics o American College of Nutrition o American Society for Nutrition

23. 1.Recommendations that promise a quick fix ● Often the case with supplements, fad-foods, weight loss claims

24. 2.) Dire warnings of danger from a single product of regimen ● The idea of danger products change year after year- i.e. o Fat makes you fat o Carbohydrates are toxic o Sugar is white death

25. 3.) Claims that sound too good to be true ● Goes in hand with the “quick fix” ● the public likes it when the advice is consistent with what they want to do

26. 4.) Simplistic conclusion drawn from a single study ● the idea that studies are “black and white” ● consider previous research that has been done in the past, what we know, and a wide range of conditions

27. 5.) Recommendations based upon a single study ● Most likely there has been previous research done ● Consider how the study fits with everything that has been found to date

28. 6.) Dramatic statements that are refuted by reputable scientific organizations ● Consider Government agencies when looking for evidenced-based research: o Centers for Disease Control and Prevention o Food and Drug Administration o Department of Agriculture o National Institutes of Health o Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics o American Heart Association o American Institute for Cancer Research

29. 7.) Lists “good” and “bad” foods ● Consider balance and moderations ● Foods are not independently good or bad in terms of you should always eat or never eat ● There are foods we should eat less often

30. 8.) Recommendation made to help sell a product ● Be aware of sales pitches for supplements ● Many articles are funded by groups that clearly have a stake on the outcome

31. 9.) Recommendation based on studies published without peer review ● Studies are not credible without being published in a peer- reviewed journal ● Reinforces the findings are significant

32. 10.) Recommendations from studies that ignore differences among individuals or groups One size does not fit all

33. Your turn to be a critical reader: ● Split into 2 groups ● Determine if the article we give you seems like a credible source of nutrition information ● If so, why? If not, why not?

34. Avocado Deviled Eggs Recipe adapted from: preventionRD.com

35. Sources ● http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/media/ http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/media/ ● http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/media-full-story/ http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/media-full-story/ ● http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140128153814.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140128153814.htm ● http://journals.cambridge.org/download.php?file=%2FBJN%2FBJN96_S 1%2FS0007114506002418a.pdf&code=780b51a7698ef06e90aecae20ceafe b1 http://journals.cambridge.org/download.php?file=%2FBJN%2FBJN96_S 1%2FS0007114506002418a.pdf&code=780b51a7698ef06e90aecae20ceafe b1 ● http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10810730.2013.798384 http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10810730.2013.798384 ● http://www.human.cornell.edu/outreach/upload/Evidence-based- Programs-Overview.pdf http://www.human.cornell.edu/outreach/upload/Evidence-based- Programs-Overview.pdf