Broscience FTW

ashleyisgreat
ashleyisgreat Posts: 586 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Today I got into an argument with a friend about nutrition, which is a mistake because this particular friend is a big believer in broscience nonsense. She often touts myths without knowing much about science or nutrition.

So today she insisted that you can lose weight while on a surplus as long as you're eating paleo. She vehemently insisted that a calorie deficit is not the only way to lose weight; as long as you're eating "healthy food," you can eat as much as you want (even when it exceeds your daily caloric needs). She knows this because "they've done studies" and "each person is different."

We then got into the issue of "a calorie is not a calorie," and while I acknowledged that different foods have different nutrient densities, I insisted that, barring a medical condition that would prevent normal weight loss, a calorie deficit WILL result in weight loss because, ya know, thermodynamics. She said this was wrong, since almost everyone has "undiagnosed food allergies," which is causing inflammation that stops weight loss from happening.

Ah, isn't misinformation great?
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Replies

  • snazzyjazzy21
    snazzyjazzy21 Posts: 1,298 Member
    I generally just give up when it comes to people like that. It doesn't matter how much scientific evidence you throw at people, they refuse to believe it and they're not interested in any 'truths' that aren't their own.
  • knightlygator
    knightlygator Posts: 13
    Today I got into an argument with a friend about nutrition, which is a mistake because this particular friend is a big believer in broscience nonsense. She often touts myths without knowing much about science or nutrition.


    You know the blonde bimbo I work with too?? Gosh the world is small. :)
  • autovatic
    autovatic Posts: 99 Member
    Super frustrating, especially when you're coming from sceptic's perspective.

    But I would say, give your friend the benefit of the doubt: help her learn to think critically about the things she is reading, show her places to look up *credible* information, don't just feed her facts that contradict what she is currently believing.

    A tall task, but one less person who believes everything they see on Facebook is a huge victory for humanity!
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    you know, "each person is different" is all well and good, but there are 7 billion of us. i bet more of us are the same than we think.
  • Unknown
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  • susannamarie
    susannamarie Posts: 2,148 Member
    My mother does this to me.

    She keeps telling me how all I need to do is cut carbs and it'll be impossible to gain weight no matter how much I eat.

    Then she tells me to drink more milk.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    in…for the snowflake support of this...
  • Trechechus
    Trechechus Posts: 2,819 Member
    I am allergic to asparagus and pickles... Or maybe I just hate them.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    I generally just give up when it comes to people like that. It doesn't matter how much scientific evidence you throw at people, they refuse to believe it and they're not interested in any 'truths' that aren't their own.

    I read a study recently that basically found that if you use science to prove psuedoscience wrong, the believer will cling to it even more tightly.

    So it's hopeless, pretty much.


    Here it is. It's talking about the antivax movement but I still think it applies.

    http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2014/03/03/effective_messages_in_vaccine_promotion_when_it_comes_to_anti_vaxxers_there.html

    http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2014/02/25/peds.2013-2365
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    I generally just give up when it comes to people like that. It doesn't matter how much scientific evidence you throw at people, they refuse to believe it and they're not interested in any 'truths' that aren't their own.

    I read a study recently that basically found that if you use science to prove psuedoscience wrong, the believer will cling to it even more tightly.

    So it's hopeless, pretty much.

    they should do a study on the 'rage quit cycle'
  • ashleyisgreat
    ashleyisgreat Posts: 586 Member
    I generally just give up when it comes to people like that. It doesn't matter how much scientific evidence you throw at people, they refuse to believe it and they're not interested in any 'truths' that aren't their own.

    I read a study recently that basically found that if you use science to prove psuedoscience wrong, the believer will cling to it even more tightly.

    So it's hopeless, pretty much.

    Noooo. That's terrible! haha
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    Today I got into an argument with a friend about nutrition, which is a mistake because this particular friend is a big believer in broscience nonsense. She often touts myths without knowing much about science or nutrition.

    So today she insisted that you can lose weight while on a surplus as long as you're eating paleo. She vehemently insisted that a calorie deficit is not the only way to lose weight; as long as you're eating "healthy food," you can eat as much as you want (even when it exceeds your daily caloric needs). She knows this because "they've done studies" and "each person is different."

    We then got into the issue of "a calorie is not a calorie," and while I acknowledged that different foods have different nutrient densities, I insisted that, barring a medical condition that would prevent normal weight loss, a calorie deficit WILL result in weight loss because, ya know, thermodynamics. She said this was wrong, since almost everyone has "undiagnosed food allergies," which is causing inflammation that stops weight loss from happening.

    Ah, isn't misinformation great?

    btw, i just noticed your ticker. this should've been your response.

    well-thats-just-like-your-opinion-man-gif-the-dude-lebowski.gif
  • ashleyisgreat
    ashleyisgreat Posts: 586 Member
    Today I got into an argument with a friend about nutrition, which is a mistake because this particular friend is a big believer in broscience nonsense. She often touts myths without knowing much about science or nutrition.

    So today she insisted that you can lose weight while on a surplus as long as you're eating paleo. She vehemently insisted that a calorie deficit is not the only way to lose weight; as long as you're eating "healthy food," you can eat as much as you want (even when it exceeds your daily caloric needs). She knows this because "they've done studies" and "each person is different."

    We then got into the issue of "a calorie is not a calorie," and while I acknowledged that different foods have different nutrient densities, I insisted that, barring a medical condition that would prevent normal weight loss, a calorie deficit WILL result in weight loss because, ya know, thermodynamics. She said this was wrong, since almost everyone has "undiagnosed food allergies," which is causing inflammation that stops weight loss from happening.

    Ah, isn't misinformation great?

    btw, i just noticed your ticker. this should've been your response.

    well-thats-just-like-your-opinion-man-gif-the-dude-lebowski.gif

    Close! It was more like Donny's face back there behind The Dude. Seriously. lol
  • heathercondon79
    heathercondon79 Posts: 5
    Genius!
  • RomulanWarbird
    RomulanWarbird Posts: 230
    Today I got into an argument with a friend about nutrition, which is a mistake because this particular friend is a big believer in broscience nonsense. She often touts myths without knowing much about science or nutrition.

    So today she insisted that you can lose weight while on a surplus as long as you're eating paleo. She vehemently insisted that a calorie deficit is not the only way to lose weight; as long as you're eating "healthy food," you can eat as much as you want (even when it exceeds your daily caloric needs). She knows this because "they've done studies" and "each person is different."

    We then got into the issue of "a calorie is not a calorie," and while I acknowledged that different foods have different nutrient densities, I insisted that, barring a medical condition that would prevent normal weight loss, a calorie deficit WILL result in weight loss because, ya know, thermodynamics. She said this was wrong, since almost everyone has "undiagnosed food allergies," which is causing inflammation that stops weight loss from happening.

    Ah, isn't misinformation great?

    btw, i just noticed your ticker. this should've been your response.

    well-thats-just-like-your-opinion-man-gif-the-dude-lebowski.gif


    ^

    How annoying! Obviously you know a little bit about what you're doing considering your progress.
  • QueenBishOTUniverse
    QueenBishOTUniverse Posts: 14,121 Member
    I generally just give up when it comes to people like that. It doesn't matter how much scientific evidence you throw at people, they refuse to believe it and they're not interested in any 'truths' that aren't their own.

    I read a study recently that basically found that if you use science to prove psuedoscience wrong, the believer will cling to it even more tightly.

    So it's hopeless, pretty much.


    Here it is. It's talking about the antivax movement but I still think it applies.

    http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2014/03/03/effective_messages_in_vaccine_promotion_when_it_comes_to_anti_vaxxers_there.html

    http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2014/02/25/peds.2013-2365

    As a teacher of evolution in the south, this is something we've known about for A LONG TIME, no studies needed. But as a scientist, the study is of course icing.
  • Sbrn_
    Sbrn_ Posts: 351 Member
    I generally just give up when it comes to people like that. It doesn't matter how much scientific evidence you throw at people, they refuse to believe it and they're not interested in any 'truths' that aren't their own.

    I read a study recently that basically found that if you use science to prove psuedoscience wrong, the believer will cling to it even more tightly.

    So it's hopeless, pretty much.


    Here it is. It's talking about the antivax movement but I still think it applies.

    http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2014/03/03/effective_messages_in_vaccine_promotion_when_it_comes_to_anti_vaxxers_there.html

    http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2014/02/25/peds.2013-2365

    Oh my. :noway: How else are people going to learn and refine what they already know if they can't even accept cold, hard facts? That's actually quite terrifying. For serious.
  • QueenBishOTUniverse
    QueenBishOTUniverse Posts: 14,121 Member
    I generally just give up when it comes to people like that. It doesn't matter how much scientific evidence you throw at people, they refuse to believe it and they're not interested in any 'truths' that aren't their own.

    I read a study recently that basically found that if you use science to prove psuedoscience wrong, the believer will cling to it even more tightly.

    So it's hopeless, pretty much.


    Here it is. It's talking about the antivax movement but I still think it applies.

    http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2014/03/03/effective_messages_in_vaccine_promotion_when_it_comes_to_anti_vaxxers_there.html

    http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2014/02/25/peds.2013-2365

    Oh my. :noway: How else are people going to learn and refine what they already know if they can't even accept cold, hard facts? That's actually quite terrifying. For serious.

    Three words: Flat Earth Society
  • ashleyisgreat
    ashleyisgreat Posts: 586 Member
    I generally just give up when it comes to people like that. It doesn't matter how much scientific evidence you throw at people, they refuse to believe it and they're not interested in any 'truths' that aren't their own.

    I read a study recently that basically found that if you use science to prove psuedoscience wrong, the believer will cling to it even more tightly.

    So it's hopeless, pretty much.


    Here it is. It's talking about the antivax movement but I still think it applies.

    http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2014/03/03/effective_messages_in_vaccine_promotion_when_it_comes_to_anti_vaxxers_there.html

    http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2014/02/25/peds.2013-2365

    Oh my. :noway: How else are people going to learn and refine what they already know if they can't even accept cold, hard facts? That's actually quite terrifying. For serious.

    Three words: Flat Earth Society

    This and geocentrism. :huh:
  • susannamarie
    susannamarie Posts: 2,148 Member
    12 million Americans believe that our country is run by shape-shifting lizard aliens, and you're surprised that so many believe broscience? :P

    http://www.thewire.com/national/2013/04/12-million-americans-believe-lizard-people-run-our-country/63799/
  • jennifries227
    jennifries227 Posts: 113 Member
    Not long after I started counting calories a friend on Facebook posted a Broscience article stating that counting calories was bad for you and it wouldn't help you lose weight. She didn't tag me in the post, but there was no question why she posted it.

    I just keep counting my calories and keep losing weight. 21 pounds since I started, and 11 since I joined MFP! So much for it not working...
  • zoeysasha37
    zoeysasha37 Posts: 7,088 Member
    Sometimes its not worth getting into with ignorant people. Just say, well you go ahead and eat at a surplus and I'll eat at a deficit and we'll see which works best!
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    12 million Americans believe that our country is run by shape-shifting lizard aliens, and you're surprised that so many believe broscience? :P

    http://www.thewire.com/national/2013/04/12-million-americans-believe-lizard-people-run-our-country/63799/

    Well I shouldn't surprised by that. But I am.

    39776-7tDSpgif-yoDZ_zpsa4b2d78f.gif
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    12 million Americans believe that our country is run by shape-shifting lizard aliens, and you're surprised that so many believe broscience? :P

    http://www.thewire.com/national/2013/04/12-million-americans-believe-lizard-people-run-our-country/63799/


    hey, lets not start questioning the lizard shifting overlords….i don't want any part of that...
  • ashleyisgreat
    ashleyisgreat Posts: 586 Member
    12 million Americans believe that our country is run by shape-shifting lizard aliens, and you're surprised that so many believe broscience? :P

    http://www.thewire.com/national/2013/04/12-million-americans-believe-lizard-people-run-our-country/63799/


    hey, lets not start questioning the lizard shifting overlords….i don't want any part of that...

    You're one of them! I knew it.
  • QueenBishOTUniverse
    QueenBishOTUniverse Posts: 14,121 Member
    12 million Americans believe that our country is run by shape-shifting lizard aliens, and you're surprised that so many believe broscience? :P

    http://www.thewire.com/national/2013/04/12-million-americans-believe-lizard-people-run-our-country/63799/


    hey, lets not start questioning the lizard shifting overlords….i don't want any part of that...

    You're one of them! I knew it.

    Well I've never seen his face, have you?
  • nikkihk
    nikkihk Posts: 487 Member
    12 million Americans believe that our country is run by shape-shifting lizard aliens, and you're surprised that so many believe broscience? :P

    All of my friends are trying this new diet plan.. Soylent something? Tastes great and only half the calories of other meal replacements.
  • eileen0515
    eileen0515 Posts: 408 Member
    When I was younger, I would try and debate silly, misinformed people, on a variety of subjects. Today I just write them off, and move on. I have come to the realization, many people have a distrust of science, and magic makes more sense. Sheesh!
  • astronomicals
    astronomicals Posts: 1,537 Member
    i dont see stupid
  • angelzprophecy
    angelzprophecy Posts: 130
    but i dont understand how inflammation would cause you to stop losing weight.... like wheres the logic in that???

    and paleo is a fad diet that has not been around for that long. how does she think people lost weight before then? by accident? it just happened somehow? secret paleo dieting?

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