Question 1

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?

Accepted Answer

A)  DMD 
B)  MSRN 
C)  RDN 
D)  MS

Question 2

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?

Accepted Answer

A)  Observing the general dietary practices of obese people 
B)  Analyzing data collected during the study 
C)  Submitting an article that explains the experiment's design to a newspaper 
D)  Reporting their results on a popular television program

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

A)  anecdotal evidence. 
B)  placebos. 
C)  clinically proven. 
D)  quackery.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

A)  ask a group of peer reviewers for their help in designing a single-blind study involving the dietary practices of children. 
B)  develop a question that's based on his observations of the children's behavior and their intakes of sweeteners such as honey. 
C)  analyze information about the general dietary practices and common behavioral problems of first-grade children. 
D)  form at least two basic conclusions about behavioral problems that affect children who eat sweeteners such as honey.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

A)  People who have concerns about health-related products or treatments should be skeptical to avoid being cheated out of their money. 
B)  People who have cancer should take vitamin C pills because the pills have been clinically proven to cure cancer. 
C)  People who have complaints about false or misleading health claims should report them to the Federal Trade Commission. 
D)  People who have questions about medical conditions should seek answers from practitioners who have had the proper training and licensing.

Question 6

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?

Accepted Answer

A)  The findings are newsworthy and important enough to be published in a peer-reviewed nutrition journal. 
B)  The findings are biased because the scientist used mice instead of humans in her study. 
C)  The findings are not meaningful because of the way the scientist designed her study. 
D)  The findings are very interesting and provide scientific proof that cadmium causes weight loss.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

A)  the general public and public libraries subscribe to them. 
B)  registered dietitians are usually hired to write the articles about nutrition that are published in these journals. 
C)  authors generally pay the editors of popular magazines to publish their nutrition articles. 
D)  articles in such popular magazines generally do not undergo peer-review before they are published.

Question 8

Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Scientists developed dietary recommendations for the U.S. population after analyzing results of a single American study, the Framingham Heart Study. 
B)  Scientists are unlikely to obtain money to conduct research, if they don't consider the opinions and beliefs of the people in agencies who fund such projects. 
C)  Scientists typically use different methods to conduct research, which explains why studies involving humans often have conflicting results. 
D)  Scientists have peer reviewers analyze the designs of their human research studies, because the peer-review process reduces research bias.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

A)  an anecdotal report. 
B)  human subject bias. 
C)  participant fatigue. 
D)  the placebo effect.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

A)  distractors. 
B)  antidotes. 
C)  placebos. 
D)  interventions.

Question 11

Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Registered dietitian nutritionists aren't required to maintain their certification regularly. 
B)  The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution often protects people who spread nutrition misinformation. 
C)  You can ask your personal physician for nutrition advice, because physicians have the same training as registered dietitian nutritionists. 
D)  In the United States, only registered dietitian nutritionists can provide nutrition information legally.

Question 12

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?

Accepted Answer

A)  National Organization Against Health Fraud 
B)  Consumer Protection Alliance 
C)  Department of Human Resources 
D)  Federal Trade Commission

Question 13

Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  In general, personal websites, such as blogs, are reliable sources of nutrition information. 
B)  The Internet is generally a reliable source of nutrition information, because information provided at websites has to be peer-reviewed before it can be posted. 
C)  U.S. laws require promoters of nutrition-related products to publish information in magazine articles and books that's honest or not misleading. 
D)  Nutrition departments at websites with .edu in their addresses are likely to provide reliable nutrition information.

Question 14

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)

Accepted Answer

A)  motive. 
B)  disclaimer. 
C)  anecdote. 
D)  bias.

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

A)  bias. 
B)  disclaimer. 
C)  warning. 
D)  placebo.

Question 16

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?

Accepted Answer

A)  Announcing the results of the study on a popular TV program 
B)  Submitting an article describing the study and its results to a peer-reviewed journal 
C)  Obtaining the approval of the Federal Trade Commission (FT
C)  to conduct research on human subjects 
D)  Using a single-blind study that includes placebos to test the question

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

A)  supplements. 
B)  placebos. 
C)  treatments. 
D)  antidotes.

Question 18

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)

Accepted Answer

A)  anecdote. 
B)  testimonial. 
C)  placebo. 
D)  disclaimer.

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

A)  cdc.gov 
B)  mizzou.edu 
C)  marchofdimes.org 
D)  losefastandforever.com

Question 20

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?

Accepted Answer

A)  The researcher shouldn't report her findings, until she uses a single-blind study to test the vitamin E-containing cream. 
B)  The results of this study prove that rubbing a cream that contains vitamin E on arthritic knees is a good way to relieve knee pain. 
C)  The results about the benefits of using a vitamin E cream for knee pain are questionable, because the researcher didn't have a control group. 
D)  The researcher should find a peer-review group to analyze her findings about the vitamin E-containing cream as a treatment for knee pain.

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?

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

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

Which of the following statements is true?

Which of the following statements is true?

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)

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?

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?