Exam 2: Nutrition Information: Fact or Fiction

A popular fitness magazine has an article about the health benefits of high-fiber diets. Which of the following credentials indicates that the author is likely to be a reliable source of food and nutrition information?

A group of researchers wants to conduct a scientific study to investigate dietary factors that affect the development of obesity. Which of the following activities is likely to be the first step of their research efforts?

A person claims his newly invented device treats cancer without surgery, medication, or other forms of conventional medical therapy. However, people who have used the device report that it wasn't helpful, and it may have harmed them. According to this information, the inventor's claims and his device are

A researcher observes that first-grade children who only eat foods sweetened with honey seem to behave the same as first-grade children who eat foods sweetened with cane sugar. After making the observation, the researcher decides to conduct a study to explore whether eating honey has any affect on school-age children's behavior. The researcher wants to follow the basic steps of the scientific method. Now that he's made the observation, his next step will be to

Which of the following statements is untrustworthy or misleading because it contains a "red flag" of unreliable nutrition-related information?

A scientist conducts a study to determine the effects of the mineral cadmium on the weight of mice. She adds 5 mcg of the mineral to the daily diet of 100 4-week-old laboratory mice. Every week, the researcher records the weight of each mouse. At the end of the study, the scientist notes that 3 mice died, 40 mice lost weight, 40 mice gained weight, and the remaining 17 mice didn't gain or lose weight during the 12-week period. Based on this information, what would you tell the researcher about her findings?

Men's Journal and Family Circle may be unreliable sources of nutrition information, because

Which of the following statements is true?

Phil is a participant in a study designed to examine the effects of taking a new protein-containing product on muscle tissue development. Phil suspects he's in the experimental group, because he's certain his muscles are bigger and stronger as a result of taking the product supplied by the researchers. When the study is completed, Phil learns that he didn't receive the new source of protein. Phil thinks the researchers made a mistake-he's certain his muscle mass increased while he consumed the product. According to this information, Phil's belief that his physical condition improved while he participated in the study is an example of

Researchers are conducting a study to determine the effects of vitamin D on the human body. The study involves providing pills that contain vitamin D to one group of human subjects and pills that do not contain the vitamin or other active ingredients to another group of people. The pills that do not contain vitamin D are

Which of the following statements is true?

You recently watched an infomercial at an Internet website in which an actor promoted a new weight loss product. The actor stated that you'll lose weight almost instantly by consuming the product, because it contains a secret herbal formula that's both safe and effective. The promoter also said that you can continue to eat all of your usual foods and still lose weight, while taking the herbal formula. You're concerned that people might waste their money on this product. Which agency should you contact to file a complaint about the website?

Which of the following statements is true?

Zack takes 500 mg of vitamin C daily. He advises his friends to take the vitamin C pills, because he claims the vitamin protects him from cold viruses. His information about the usefulness of the vitamin is a(an)

A television advertisement for a protein-rich drink includes before and after photos of a young man. In the "before" photo, the man appears unhappy and slim, but he looks thrilled and very muscular in the "after" photo. The narrator claims the man gained 30 pounds of "solid muscle" while drinking the protein formula daily for 2 months. At the bottom of the man's after photo, you notice a statement in small print that's difficult to read. According to the statement, "results may vary." This statement is an example of a

Researchers at a major American university plan a scientific study to investigate lifestyle factors that contribute to heart disease. Which of the following activities is most likely to be a component of their research efforts?

Researchers are conducting a study to determine the effects of vitamin C on the human immune system. The study involves providing pills that contain vitamin C to one group of human subjects and pills that do not contain vitamin C or other active ingredients to another group of people. The pills that do not contain the vitamin are

A magazine advertisement for a weight loss product includes before and after photos of a woman who supposedly lost 50 pounds in 3 weeks while taking the product. The bottom of the ad includes the statement, "Results are not typical." This statement is an example of a(n)

Which of the following websites is most likely a source of biased and unreliable nutrition information?

A medical researcher asked 50 people with painful, arthritic knees to rub a cream that contained vitamin E on their knees for two weeks. At the end of the two weeks, she asked the subjects whether their knee pain improved, stayed about the same, or worsened during the treatment period. All 50 subjects reported improvement in their knee pain. Based on this information, which of the following statements is true?