Obesity Week Update

HI there. Having a wonderful time at OW 2014. Meeting some great nurses, dietitians and physicians in the weight loss world.

At my first lecture yesterday on media, communications and obesity, I was reminded how slippery many folks find ‘the media.’ Having been a reporter for about 7 years before becoming a dietitian, I knew politicians often felt this way but, scientists? I was surprised. . Sylvia Rowe from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy offered this explanation in her presentation:

Science thrives on consensus. Media thrives on conflict.”

Don’t you love it when someone can clearly articulate what you’ve been feeling but couldn’t possibly explain? This statement helps me understand why I get frustrated with some of the food and nutrition headlines and pseudo controversies.

Then Sylvia offered this:

Science isn't in a state of confusion but a state of continual change.

Explains a lot, doesn’t it? The general public gets frustrated with nutrition professionals because it seems, (according to headlines of the moment) that we’re changing our minds all the time, i.e. ‘Fat is Bad…no wait, Fat is Good.’ etc. when we’re only sharing the latest results in ongoing work.

Bottom line for consumers? Question what you hear on the news. Ask yourself, who funded this research and would they gain financially with positive outcomes? Also consider, is there more to the story? Could the reporter have taken something said out of context, changing the meaning and making a more provocative/sexy story for the 11 o’clock news?

Be a critical consumer of your science/obesity/weight loss headlines. It’s more important than ever since everyone with a phone, computer or Twitter account is now delivering your ‘news’.