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.
professional maid services Park Ridge ..There are those that walk amongst us who have followed... Read More
Water is useful when we are trying for losing weight.... Read More
If you're trying lose weight, maintain your weight, or sculpt... Read More
How many calories do you need? Well, that depends on... Read More
A startling fact is that carbohydrates are not responsible for... Read More
Weight loss specialists will tell you that attitude has a... Read More
Nice girls don't speak up. Nice girls take care of... Read More
My name is Greg Ryan. I am a high profile... Read More
I did it without starving myself or taking pills. How... Read More
One of the greatest tricks that I use to stick... Read More
Gastric Bypass surgery is becoming increasingly more popular for the... Read More
Negative calorie foods are said to use more calories to... Read More
Which diet pill are you currently taking for your weight... Read More
One of the difficulties with dieting is the well known... Read More
As our bodies move from Winter into Spring we can... Read More
When you're taking Phentermine, you should go to the emergency... Read More
We all know it's hard to begin losing weight, no... Read More
Your health is affected not only by how much body... Read More
1. Drink plenty of water. Our body needs a lot... Read More
There is no doubt about it; Americans are eating in... Read More
If only there were a 'better body boot camp', we'd... Read More
I've talked to quite a few fellow gastric bypass patients... Read More
Students today are faced with the serious reality of unwanted... Read More
How to Break Your PlateauToday is a typical morning like... Read More
If you're taking a fiber supplement or eating a high... Read More
cleaning lady near Lincolnshire ..Remember that movie with Jim Carey, "Dumb and Dumber?" And... Read More
Wow! You must be on fire by now burning and... Read More
When you are faced with the daily challenge of trying... Read More
Taming the See Food Eat Food ResponseWhat happens when you're... Read More
Do you know that while you work out the muscles... Read More
Are you one of the many people who feel frustrated... Read More
In the early nineties I had the opportunity to work... Read More
As our bodies move from Winter into Spring we can... Read More
As a weight loss mentor it never ceases to amaze... Read More
One of the greatest tricks that I use to stick... Read More
Diets, diets, diets... every where you go, anything you read... Read More
Contrary to common belief, your weight is not really the... Read More
Your pants are a bit tight, you can't seem to... Read More
Dieting doesn't have to be a chore. Actually, you can... Read More
How would you like Julia Roberts to coach you on... Read More
Looking to avoid the dieting mistakes many of our weight... Read More
1. Persistence!Violate this step and you'll never achieve permanent results.... Read More
This is a very important topic that needs to be... Read More
Offer a woman the choice between a dress she likes... Read More
It can happen with one bite. The moment those refined... Read More
ATTITUDESIT'S NOT ABOUT YOU!Exercising has so many physical benefits that... Read More
Thankfully, winter does not last forever! In the spring there... Read More
Losing Weight is All About Counting Calories/Carbs and Exercising. Or... Read More
Used a diet pill recently and got depressed because you... Read More
Looking for Diet Programs on net is like looking for... Read More
Weight Loss |