Nutrition & Food Science Workshop 2007

1. Nutrition & Food Science Workshop2007 Nutritionally Sound Science and Websites Julie Metos, MPH,RD University of Utah julie.metos@hsc.utah.edu

2. The Five Teasers • Testimonials • Too good to be true • Twisting the truth • Tacky, tacky, tacky • Tempting your wallet

3. The 3 Best Sellers • Weight Loss • More Energy • Better Sex or Sex Appeal

4. Nine Warning Signs of Nonsense Nutrition • The discoverer pitches the claim directly to the media. • The discoverer says that a powerful establishment is trying to suppress his or her work. • The nutrition effect is always at the limit of detection. • Evidence is anecdotal. • The discoverer says a belief is credible because it has endured for centuries. • The discoverer has worked in isolation. • The discoverer must propose new laws of nature to explain an observation. • Pseudonutrition deliberately creates mystery where none exists. • Pseudonutrition appeals to false authority, to emotion, distrust of established fact. Adapted from www.quackwatch.org “Seven Warning Signs of Bogus Science” by Robert L. Park, Ph.D.

5. Evaluating Research • Conflict of Interest • Peer Review • Reputable Journal • Established Over Time • Expert Panels • Databases that Establish Strength of Topic (example Cochrane Reviews and give levels of evidence).

6. Websites: Better Bets • Government websites (NIH, IOM, CDC) • Medical review board involvement; peer review • Dietitian involvement, doctor involvement • Trustworthy sponsor • Wording respects your decision making skills • Avoids quick fix solutions

7. Solid Information- Examples • American Heart Association • Kids Health • NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association) • Mypyramid.gov • www.nutrition.gov • Vegetarian Resource Group • http://teens.drugabuse.gov • National Dairy Council

8. More Edgy but Credible Examples • YouthNoise.com • Something-fishy.org • www.cspinet.org/smartmouth

9. Websites Requiring Critical Thinking Skills • Any website trying to convert you • Example: www.peta.org • Any website selling a nutrition product • Example: www.supplementcentral.com • Any website selling a weight loss product • Example: jennycraig.com

10. Additional Helpful Websites BAM! This site by the CDC promotes strong bodies and minds in “tweens” www.bam.gov/ 4 Girls Health This site, sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services, focuses on current health information for girls ages 10-16. www.4girls.gov/index2.htm Girl Power This link by the Department of Health and Human Services provides general health information to girls ages 9-13. www.girlpower.gov/girlarea/index.htm Kidnetic This site for kids 9-12 promotes healthy eating and active living. It is sponsored by the International Food Information Council in partnership with the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Dietetic Association, and National Recreation and Parks Association, among others. www.kidnetic.com/ KidsHealth Created by the Nemours Foundation’s Center for Children’s Health Media. Kids Health provides families with accurate, up-to-date, and jargon-free health information they can use. For kids: www.kidshealth.org/kid/ For Teens: www.teenshealth.org/

11. More Sites Nutrition Café This site sponsored by the Pacific Science Center and Washington State Dairy Council, offers nutritional information through a variety of games http://exhibits.pacsci.org/nutrition/ Powerful Bones. Powerful Girls. This site includes a Super Sleuth game where girls can find bone-healthy items in a scavenger hunt, and a Powerful Bones Journal with information on foods with calcium and weight-bearing physical activities. The Journal also has space to write names, addresses, and important dates www.cdc.gov/powerfulbones/index2.html VERB This site by the CDC offers information for “tweens” on physical activity www.verbnow.com/

12. Questions and Comments Be a critical thinker