Beyond Labels

A 360° Discussion of Foreign, National and Local Policy Issues

That Chocolate Study

Here’s an analysis of the junk science paper mentioned in today’s meeting. The paper was based on badly done science and went viral. The author of the paper, had written it to prove how easy it is to get people to believe things that aren’t true because they want to. Surprisingly, according to this analysis, his conclusion is probably correct, but certainly not justified by his “study.”

http://slatestarcodex.com/2015/05/30/that-chocolate-study/

“Slim by Chocolate!” the headlines blared. A team of German researchers had found that people on a low-carb diet lost weight 10 percent faster if they ate a chocolate bar every day. It made the front page of Bild, Europe’s largest daily newspaper, just beneath their update about the Germanwings crash. From there, it ricocheted around the internet and beyond, making news in more than 20 countries and half a dozen languages. It was discussed on television news shows. It appeared in glossy print, most recently in the June issue of Shape magazine (“Why You Must Eat Chocolate Daily,” page 128). Not only does chocolate accelerate weight loss, the study found, but it leads to healthier cholesterol levels and overall increased well-being. The Bild story quotes the study’s lead author, Johannes Bohannon, Ph.D., research director of the Institute of Diet and Health: “The best part is you can buy chocolate everywhere.”

I am Johannes Bohannon, Ph.D. Well, actually my name is John, and I’m a journalist. I do have a Ph.D., but it’s in the molecular biology of bacteria, not humans. The Institute of Diet and Health? That’s nothing more than a website.


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