I ignore nutrition studies, especially when they demonize red meat and saturated fat. The information is not trustworthy. The problem is that there are multiple ways to analyze data. Researchers are often looking for results that are publishable. For this reason, they can easily make decisions—consciously or subconsciously—to get the results they want.
The
problem is “analytical flexibility.” An analytical survey can involve hundreds,
if not thousands, of decisions about how best to conduct an analysis. Different
decisions about analyzing data can produce different answers: one set of
criteria will be associated with an increased risk of a particular disease; a
different set of criteria can yield the opposite conclusion.
A group of
researchers, called “methodologists,” at McMaster University in Canada and
Stanford University are looking at how the strategies and analytical decisions chosen
by researchers might influence the results of studies. In one case, the methodologists
reviewed 15 studies that were trying to determine whether the consumption of
red meat is associated with premature death. In those 15 studies, the
methodologists identified 70 different analytical strategies, and 1,208 possible
combinations of analytic choices. Using sophisticated mathematical techniques,
they then determined how the analytical techniques chosen might influence the
results. Depending on the choices made, the results showed wildly different
outcomes: 435 concluded that red meat consumption is associated with an
increased risk of premature death; 773 led to the opposite conclusion: the
more red meat consumed, the longer people lived.
As far as
I’m concerned, it makes sense to avoid red meat for ecological reasons, but not
for fear of an early death.
For an introduction to this blog, see I Just Say No; for a list of blog topics, click the Topics tab.
Connie, Good point. I agree that eating red meat supports more environmental pollution and justifies making a different choice.
ReplyDeleteInteresting point, Connie. I feel as though I can get all the nutrition I need from plants and the vitamin B12 my doctor recommended because I eat so little meat.
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