Bad News Vegetarians

xoxoxoBruce · 03-24-2014, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Our results revealed that a vegetarian diet is related to a lower BMI and less frequent alcohol consumption. Moreover, our results showed that a vegetarian diet is associated with poorer health (higher incidences of cancer, allergies, and mental health disorders), a higher need for health care, and poorer quality of life. Therefore, public health programs are needed in order to reduce the health risk due to nutritional factors.

orthodoc · 03-24-2014, 06:36 PM

This is a cross-sectional study, i.e. a snapshot at one point in time. The study authors used the data from the Austrian Health Interview Survey, a self-reported set of data. There are major biases associated with self-reported data, from self-selection to recall bias.

The authors took the single point-in-time snapshot and then ignored confounders. For example, people with cancer, allergies, and (possibly) mental disorders are more likely to try different diets, including vegetarian, in an attempt to manage their health. Bottom line: a cross-sectional study gives you a look at the prevalence of disease in a selected population at a single point in time. It can't say anything about causation. But the authors suggest that a vegetarian diet is involved in the causation of the various diseases.

BAD SCIENCE!

PLoS One is an open-access online journal that accepts 70% of what is sent to it. It depends on readers to decide what's important; apparently scientific integrity isn't on its list of priorities. That's not to say that more strictly-reviewed journals are perfect, but this one has (reasonably) been called the Public Library of Sloppiness.

I'm going to print this one out for my next Journal Club as an example of a poorly executed study. Sorry, Bruce. But I know you threw this out there to see who'd bite.

Aliantha · 03-24-2014, 07:13 PM

haha...that's why I'm not a vego. I don't want to be a burden to society, so I'll just keep drinking more and have a higher BMI. That should help society.

monster · 03-24-2014, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orthodoc

PLoS

PiLe of S...?

xoxoxoBruce · 03-25-2014, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orthodoc

Sorry, Bruce. But I know you threw this out there to see who'd bite.

I didn't understand how they came to there conclusions and couldn't be bothered to spend any time figuring it out, because it doesn't concern me... and never will.

I brought it here for the poor deprived people it might concern to wrestle with.

heane · 03-25-2014, 12:29 AM

bad science?

footfootfoot · 03-25-2014, 10:23 AM

I.e. Only temporarily blinded.

Happy Monkey · 03-25-2014, 12:12 PM

Life causes cancer. The longer you live, the higher your chances.

Lola Bunny · 03-25-2014, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

Life causes cancer. The longer you live, the higher your chances.

That's right.

03-24-2014, 06:36 PM	#2
orthodoc Not Suspicious, Merely Canadian Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 3,774	This is a cross-sectional study, i.e. a snapshot at one point in time. The study authors used the data from the Austrian Health Interview Survey, a self-reported set of data. There are major biases associated with self-reported data, from self-selection to recall bias. The authors took the single point-in-time snapshot and then ignored confounders. For example, people with cancer, allergies, and (possibly) mental disorders are more likely to try different diets, including vegetarian, in an attempt to manage their health. Bottom line: a cross-sectional study gives you a look at the prevalence of disease in a selected population at a single point in time. It can't say anything about causation. But the authors suggest that a vegetarian diet is involved in the causation of the various diseases. BAD SCIENCE! PLoS One is an open-access online journal that accepts 70% of what is sent to it. It depends on readers to decide what's important; apparently scientific integrity isn't on its list of priorities. That's not to say that more strictly-reviewed journals are perfect, but this one has (reasonably) been called the Public Library of Sloppiness. I'm going to print this one out for my next Journal Club as an example of a poorly executed study. Sorry, Bruce. But I know you threw this out there to see who'd bite. __________________ The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. - Ghandi

03-24-2014, 07:13 PM	#3
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	haha...that's why I'm not a vego. I don't want to be a burden to society, so I'll just keep drinking more and have a higher BMI. That should help society. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

03-25-2014, 10:23 AM	#7
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	I.e. Only temporarily blinded. __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

03-25-2014, 12:12 PM	#8
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	Life causes cancer. The longer you live, the higher your chances. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

03-25-2014, 12:29 AM	#6
heane Kinda New Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 1	bad science?

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