1.4: Nutrition and the Media
- Page ID
- 20913
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Learning Objectives
- Describe criteria used to evaluate nutrition research.
- Identify evaluation criteria for websites.
- List sources of reliable and accurate nutrition information.
"Jeff Cooper Quotes" by Jeff Cooper
With access to information just a click away on the internet, it can be easy to be misled if you don't know where to go for reliable nutrition information.
Using Eyes of Discernment
“New study shows that margarine contributes to arterial plaque.” “Asian study reveals that two cups of coffee per day can have detrimental effects on the nervous system.” How do you react when you read news of this nature? Do you boycott margarine and coffee? When reading nutrition-related claims, articles, websites, or advertisements always remember that one study does not substantiate a fact. One study neither proves nor disproves anything. Readers who may be looking for complex answers to nutritional dilemmas can quickly misconstrue such statements and be led down a path of misinformation. Listed below are ways that you can develop discerning eyes when reading nutritional news.
- The scientific study under discussion should be published in a peer-reviewed journal. Examples of peer-reviewed journals include the Journal of Nutrition, the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. Peer-reviewed articles are assessed and critiqued by the scientists and experts in the same field as the subject of the article; peer-reviewed nutrition articles are reviewed by nutrition scientists and experts. Question studies that come from less trustworthy sources (such as non peer-reviewed journals or websites).
- The report should disclose the methods used by the researcher(s). Did the study last for three or thirty weeks? Were there ten or one hundred participants? What did the participants actually do? Did the researcher(s) observe the results themselves or did they rely on self reports from program participants? Generally speaking, studies that last longer and have more participants are considered to be more credible. Studies where participant results are directly observed by researchers are considered to have used higher quality research methods.
- Who were the subjects of this study? Humans or animals? If human, are any traits/characteristics noted? You may realize you have more in common with certain program participants and can use that as a basis to decide if the study applies to you.
- Credible reports often disseminate new findings in the context of previous research. A single study on its own gives you very limited information, but if a body of literature supports a finding, it gives you more confidence in it.
- Peer-reviewed articles deliver a broad perspective and are inclusive of findings of many studies on the exact same subject.
- How recent is the study? Studies that have been conducted within the past 5 years may have information that expands on older information on the subject.
- When reading such news, ask yourself, “Is this making sense?” Even if coffee does adversely affect the nervous system, do you drink enough of it to see any negative effects? Remember, if a headline professes a new remedy for a nutrition-related topic, it may well be a research-supported piece of news, but more often than not it is a sensational story designed to catch the attention of an unsuspecting consumer. Track down the original journal article to see if it really supports the conclusions being drawn in the news report.
- Who conducted the study and who paid for it? If the researchers or funders will profit from certain results then there could be a conflict of interest and results may need to be replicated by other research that doesn't have any conflicts of interest.
When reading information on websites, remember the following criteria for discerning if the site is valid:
- Who sponsors the website? Look at the website extension (.com, .edu, .gov, .org); typically .com websites are considered less credible than websites with other extensions.
- What is the overall intent/purpose of the website? Are you being sold something at this website? Or, is the intent to educate the reader?
- Are author names and credentials disclosed? If so, do the authors have the educational background and/or expertise required for the topic?
- Is an editorial board identified? Are experts reviewing the content of the website for accuracy and currency?
- Does the website use a lot of testimonials? Or, is it based on reputable research studies that followed the scientific method?
- Does the site contain links to other credible informational websites? Even better, does it reference peer-reviewed journal articles? If so, do those journal articles actually back up the claims being made on the website?
- How often is the website updated?
- Does the website charge a fee?
Trustworthy Sources
Groups that provide reputable nutrition information include:
- Registered Dietitian (RD) / Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)
- Licensed dietitian/nutritionist (LD/LN)
- Professional with an advanced degree (master's or doctoral) in nutrition
For more information, watch this video about "Who Is A Dietitian?"
"Nutrition Diversity" by MSU Denver
Questionable credentials include:
- nutritionist (there is no definition or law regulating the term)
- certified clinical nutritionist (CCN)
- certified nutritionist (CN)
- certified nutrition consultant (CNC)
Now let’s consider some reputable organizations and websites from which you can obtain valid nutrition information.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://www.cdc.gov) distributes an online newsletter called CDC Vital Signs. This newsletter is a valid and credible source for up-to-date public health information and data regarding food, nutrition, cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, teenage drinking, and tobacco usage.
- The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND): The Academy promotes scientific evidenced-based, research-supported food and nutrition related information on its website, https://www.eatright.org. It is focused on informing the public about recent scientific discoveries and studies, weight-loss concerns, food safety topics, nutrition issues, and disease prevention.
- US Department of Agriculture (USDA): The USDA site, https://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic, has more than twenty-five hundred links to dietary, nutrition, diet and disease, weight and obesity, food-safety and food-labeling, packaging, dietary supplement and consumer questions sites. Using this interactive site, you can find tips and resources on how to eat a healthy diet, my Foodapedia, and a food planner, among other sections.
- US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): The HHS website, https://health.gov/myhealthfinder, provides credible information about healthful lifestyles and the latest in health news. A variety of online tools are available to assist with food-planning, weight maintenance, physical activity, and dietary goals. You can also find healthful tips for all age groups, tips for preventing disease, and on daily health issues in general.
Additional reliable sources that advocate good nutrition to promote health and prevent disease using evidence-based science are listed below in Table \(\PageIndex{1}\).
| Organization | Website |
|---|---|
| Governmental | |
| USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion | https://www.fns.usda.gov/cnpp |
| Food and Drug Administration | https://www.fda.gov/ |
| Healthy People | https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/default |
| Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion | https://health.gov/ |
| Office of Dietary Supplements | https://ods.od.nih.gov/ |
| International | |
| World Health Organization | https://www.who.int/en/ |
| Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations | http://www.fao.org/home/en/ |
| Nongovernmental | |
| Harvard School of Public Health | https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/ |
| Mayo Clinic | https://www.mayoclinic.org/ |
| Linus Pauling Institute | https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/ |
| American Society for Nutrition | https://.nutrition.org/ |
| American Medical Association | https://www.ama-assn.org/ |
| American Diabetes Association | https://www.diabetes.org/ |
| American Institute for Cancer Research | https://www.aicr.org/ |
| American Heart Association | https://www.heart.org/ |
Key Takeaways
- When reading nutrition-related claims, articles, websites, or advertisements always remember that one study does not substantiate a fact. One study neither proves nor disproves anything.
- Reliable nutritional news will be based upon solid scientific evidence, supported by multiple studies, and published in peer-reviewed journals.
- Critically review websites to ensure the information comes from a credible and trustworthy source.