Every day, it seems, a new study pertaining to weight loss or nutrition is released to the public. These studies tout the latest and greatest trends, products or discoveries and then a willing public jumps on the bandwagon expecting mighty results.
Have you ever wondered about the reliability or efficacy of those studies? Do they stand the test of time or slip into obscurity only to be replaced or supplanted by another study?
Well, Greek researcher Dr. John Ioannidis decided to study the studies and he came to some very interesting conclusions. Dr. Ioannidis reviewed 45 studies published in one of three prominent medical journals (New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of the American Medical Association, and Lancet) between 1990 and 2003. Of the 45 studies, seven of them (16%) were contradicted by later research and another seven (16%) were found in subsequent studies to have effects that were lesser than initially thought.
At this rate, over three in ten studies released will report results that are either not as solid as originally reported, or are completely incorrect. Going six or seven for ten in baseball is a Hall of Fame-paced trend, but what does this mean for those of us who are relying on these studies to help us win the "Battle of the Bulge?"
Like choosing a new shirt or blouse, a haircut or hairstyle, or a paint color for a house or a room, there is inherently more risk in selecting an option that has not been time-tested than one that has. We've all come across a garment in our own closets that caused us to wonder just what we were thinking when we bought that horrible thing. Similarly, jumping on a scientific bandwagon that "promises" to be the road to success can leave you broken down on the side of the road.
When new studies are released, remember that there are members of the media and business people who stand to gain from over-promoting results that are too new to trust. Of the contradicted results, half were completely incorrect (or so it seems) and half were shown to be much less effective than originally reported.
From a practical standpoint, ask yourself if you are willing to set yourself back by gaining weight rather than losing it, or by spending time pursuing an option that simply doesn't produce the results you expected. Fighting the Battle of the Bulge successfully means that you need to have a positive attitude at all times. It is too easy to become discouraged and make destructive decisions and following advice from reliable sources that turns out to be bad can be just the kind of discouragement you don't need.
As with fashion and paint colors, if you are making decisions for the long haul, it is better to be conservative than to go with the latest trends. When you read or hear of new scientific studies whose advice you might be tempted to follow, the best decision would be to find out if the study is confirming earlier or previous work. If so, odds are that the advice is going to stand the test of time. In the meanwhile, eat fewer calories than you burn and drink lots of water and you'll continue to move in the right direction!
Michael Callen is the author of the Weekly Weightloss Tips Newsletter (weeklyweightlosstips.com) and the Chief Technology Officer for http://www.wellnesspartners.com, an online retailer of dozens of health and wellness products such as http://www.wellnesspartners.com, http://www.wellnesspartners.com, and Green Tea Extract.
Elk Grove (east OF 53) car service from Midway .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareOne thing I really must say at the outset of... Read More
Patrick Henry once said, "I have but one lamp by... Read More
Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) is often viewed as a quick... Read More
I am so proud of you and your accomplishments. You're... Read More
How to Say No When You Don't Want the FoodA... Read More
You have decided that you want to lose weight and... Read More
Who'd have thought healthy eating could be so controversial? Lunching... Read More
In a gastric bypass the connection between he stomach pouch... Read More
The following are weight loss tips that you can start... Read More
Weight loss specialists will tell you that attitude has a... Read More
You've seen them a hundred times: "Before" and "After" pictures.... Read More
Are you often overcome with an urge to splurge on... Read More
Most people think of the Atkins diet when they hear... Read More
As a weight loss mentor it never ceases to amaze... Read More
Many celiacs lose weight before they are diagnosed; indeed it... Read More
An Interview with Success Story, Caitlin JohnsonIf you don't know... Read More
At the beginning of December, WeightWatchers.com announced the release of... Read More
Ah the ever present battle to lose those unwanted pounds.... Read More
It is very tempting to try that fad diet that... Read More
According to the BMI chart, if you are overweight, you... Read More
For a healthy body, it is very important to have... Read More
? Can you give me an exercise that will get... Read More
Motivation is a factor often overlooked when it comes to... Read More
I know a lot of people out there would like... Read More
If you find this article helpful, please forward it to... Read More
Green Oaks limo rental ..Recently a woman went public in her online diet community... Read More
The first rule for successful weight loss and weight maintenance... Read More
From the moment of birth your first emotional experiences establish... Read More
Thankfully, winter does not last forever! In the spring there... Read More
In our never ending search for the illusive "Fountain of... Read More
If you are a mom at home on a diet,... Read More
The Psychology of Weight Loss ? Your Approach!We have missed... Read More
One Reality TV show, The Swan, thrives on makeovers. Often... Read More
Want to shed that beer belly? Why not try the... Read More
The following are diet tips that can help you shape... Read More
Hoodia Gordonii a cactus plant found thousands of miles away... Read More
America's Obesity EpidemicAs the numbers of overweight Americans continue to... Read More
How to burn fat fast is a question that burns... Read More
It can happen with one bite. The moment those refined... Read More
Congratulations on waking up each morning and greeting the day... Read More
You are ready to shed those energy draining, body crippling,... Read More
This past Christmas Season, as most of us stuffed our... Read More
WHAT DOES BEING FIT REALLY MEAN?The "INSIDE-OUT" approach to fitness... Read More
If it seems that you have been eating as usual... Read More
Choosing the right diet type is the most important decision... Read More
Weight Loss Red Flag GuideDespite claims to the contrary, there... Read More
Gastric bypass surgeries are temporary physical fixes to a long... Read More
ATTITUDESIT'S NOT ABOUT YOU!Exercising has so many physical benefits that... Read More
Your health is your responsibility. As a human being, you... Read More
At around ?350 pounds a treatment, Lipo-Dissolve the so called... Read More
Weight Loss |