Why do people believe so much bad science when it comes to fitness and nutrition?
__Wolf__
Posts: 137 Member
Its alarming how people ignore the simplest and most proven path to health - staying within your caloric limit and living a healthy, active lifestyle - and run towards complicated and ineffective methods.
I struggle with understanding why people crave pseudo-scientific BS, MLM-based "products, and fad-workouts that make them look like idiots in badly printed t-shirts.
I struggle with understanding why people crave pseudo-scientific BS, MLM-based "products, and fad-workouts that make them look like idiots in badly printed t-shirts.
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Because, internet.
People who haven't been taught healthy lifestyle and want a change start on Google. And you, as well as anyone, should know how much crap is on the internet.0 -
Its alarming how people ignore the simplest and most proven path to health - staying within your caloric limit and living a healthy, active lifestyle - and run towards complicated and ineffective methods.
I struggle with understanding why people crave pseudo-scientific BS, MLM-based "products, and fad-workouts that make them look like idiots in badly printed t-shirts.
Because advertising/marketing. And believing there just has to be a shortcut.0 -
They believe in there being an easier, "silver bullet", way to lose weight. Human nature, taking the easy way out. It's been engrained in this generation, do it the " easy way". There is no easy way to lose weight, only to gain weight.0
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it's also a hard area to tie down what is "real" though as the actual good science can be contradicting...
Also a LOT of even "good" science is funded with agendas, and even worse in the area of food/nutrition.0 -
Because, internet.
People who haven't been taught healthy lifestyle and want a change start on Google. And you, as well as anyone, should know how much crap is on the internet.
This. People do not know how to research. They think the top result on Google is the best one and stop there. Or they don't research things that are presented to them because.. Well, ignorance is bliss. It's easier to believe the quick fix rather than hard work.
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I think a lot of it comes from the opacity of modern science and the lack of regulation of dietary supplements. That you can make claims that something will help you lose weight and legally get away with it because you put a boilerplate disclaimer in 6 pt font in a hard to read color seems wrong.0
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My observation as a science educator is that most people lack scientific literacy and critical reading skills due to a large-scale lack of public interest and political will in the public education system. That's my short answer.
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All of the above seems true to me.... I think as well that media in general are looking for sensational stories and headlines like "water will kill you!!" And "apples contain cyanide!!" To increase views aka ad revenue!
Also to steal an x-files quote "we want to believe!" We want to justify why we are fat and can't lose weight. My "xyz" levels are too high/low so that's why I can't lose (noms giant Cinnabon).0 -
To me it's a lot like religion and CICO is the God of all Gods. How you get there is up to you. Just like religion there are some plans that are more rigid than others. And there are those that believe in science. Usually, with religion you are not supposed to go around and preach your agenda, but this is essentially a "religion" board so we discuss and "battle" it out. Cause it's what interests us. That's why we are here.0
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Its alarming how people ignore the simplest and most proven path to health - staying within your caloric limit and living a healthy, active lifestyle - and run towards complicated and ineffective methods.
I struggle with understanding why people crave pseudo-scientific BS, MLM-based "products, and fad-workouts that make them look like idiots in badly printed t-shirts.
Because advertising/marketing. And believing there just has to be a shortcut.
Yep people lookimg for easy way out, not willing to do work and take responsibility.0 -
Because most people assume that there should be an easy fix. But I like to tell people it's like going for your degree. It's something you want, it's going to take awhile to get and it's gonna take a lot of work.
No advertised diet plan, no shake, no pill will do it. You actually have to work at it. And because you pay for something that says you'll lose weight if you follow "this" doesn't mean it will work either. I lost 50lbs without paying a cent for anything but running shoes and groceries.0 -
Honestly does any of the good science make any more sense sometimes? Take the "you might be losing inches even if you're not losing weight" thing. Coherently explain that (no it's not gaining muscle because as everyone on MFP will remind you no one is EVER gaining muscle). Then there's the whole TDEE and how your TDEE can seemingly decrease and increase. Wait, so I'm trying to hit a number that's constantly moving depending on any number of things that no one can quite explain to me? Got it.
When the things that are true don't seem to make sense it's no wonder people believe pretty much anything that sounds reasonably logical.0 -
CalorieCountChocula wrote: »Honestly does any of the good science make any more sense sometimes? Take the "you might be losing inches even if you're not losing weight" thing. Coherently explain that. Then there's the whole TDEE and how your TDEE can seemingly decrease and increase. Wait, so I'm trying to hit a number that's constantly moving depending on any number of things that no one can quite explain to me? Got it.
When the things that are true don't seem to make sense it's no wonder people believe pretty much anything that sounds reasonably logical.
Most of that isn't "science" but a simplification of research into application. TDEE and such are not supposed to be precise but directionally correct. You're not trying to hit a number, you're using it as a tool to plan and develop appropriate habits.
The second this spills over into "optimization," it loses its credibility.0 -
I think its a combination of
-People are desperate and will try anything
-The media is not always great or responsible in reporting science.
-Science is ever moving and in this area and there is still a lot to learn
-People are selective on the science they will read/believe.
-Some peoples idea of woo, isn't actually woo. I.e A ripped 6 foot male gym bunnies trying to advise a 5 foot, 60 year female with arthritis how to eat and exercise (I've seen it).0 -
I think a lot of it is media - not just the internet, but television as well.
How many news stories demonize particular foods or nutrients, or insist their one trick to lose weight is all you need? People get a thousand conflicting stories (eggs are good, no they suck, no they're good, no eat low fat, nope low carb, etc. etc. etc.) and it makes nutrition seem like a confusing mess.
Governments don't help. At least the US government's nutritional guidelines are hundreds of pages long, filled with several dozen recommendations, and meeting every requirement isn't even possible.
All in all, it creates a situation where people are so confused about nutrition that they buy into any system that makes things simple enough to understand for them.0 -
Because, internet.
People who haven't been taught healthy lifestyle and want a change start on Google. And you, as well as anyone, should know how much crap is on the internet.
I wish.
Unfortunately, people have been falling for the easy fix (or impossible fix) in droves since the first snake oil salesman came up with the idea of smooth-talking people into buying worthless products. People want to believe. Even some of those who know better.0 -
CalorieCountChocula wrote: »Honestly does any of the good science make any more sense sometimes? Take the "you might be losing inches even if you're not losing weight" thing. Coherently explain that. Then there's the whole TDEE and how your TDEE can seemingly decrease and increase. Wait, so I'm trying to hit a number that's constantly moving depending on any number of things that no one can quite explain to me? Got it.
When the things that are true don't seem to make sense it's no wonder people believe pretty much anything that sounds reasonably logical.
Most of that isn't "science" but a simplification of research into application. TDEE and such are not supposed to be precise but directionally correct. You're not trying to hit a number, you're using it as a tool to plan and develop appropriate habits.
The second this spills over into "optimization," it loses its credibility.
Your right. I'm not trying to hit a number. I'm trying to hit four numbers LOL. Wait, fiber too. That's 5 numbers. Crap, 6 because I need to stay under a certain number for sodium. Maybe it is 5 since I'm not trying to hit the sodium number. I'm so confused. Anyhow, as everyone will chant "it's all just math."0 -
Weight loss = billion dollar industry based on bad/false science0
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CalorieCountChocula wrote: »CalorieCountChocula wrote: »Honestly does any of the good science make any more sense sometimes? Take the "you might be losing inches even if you're not losing weight" thing. Coherently explain that. Then there's the whole TDEE and how your TDEE can seemingly decrease and increase. Wait, so I'm trying to hit a number that's constantly moving depending on any number of things that no one can quite explain to me? Got it.
When the things that are true don't seem to make sense it's no wonder people believe pretty much anything that sounds reasonably logical.
Most of that isn't "science" but a simplification of research into application. TDEE and such are not supposed to be precise but directionally correct. You're not trying to hit a number, you're using it as a tool to plan and develop appropriate habits.
The second this spills over into "optimization," it loses its credibility.
Your right. I'm not trying to hit a number. I'm trying to hit four numbers LOL. Wait, fiber too. That's 5 numbers. Crap, 6 because I need to stay under a certain number for sodium. Maybe it is 5 since I'm not trying to hit the sodium number. I'm so confused. Anyhow, as everyone will chant "it's all just math."
I have one number I really demand that I hit (calories) and a second I try to hit (protein). Beyond that, I take a multivitamin as insurance against any micronutrient deficiency and don't care at all about the rest.
Some of it is understanding which numbers are actually relevant to your body. Sodium and potassium, for example, are only really of concern if you have hypertension - people with normal blood pressure don't really have a blood pressure response to lowering sodium or increasing potassium.0 -
internet, marketing, wooo science, dr oz, other similar shows.... wanting to believe theres a magic way or pill or shake instead of hard work and common sense.
theres actually a thread going on in my local (Facebook) community information page and the amount of BS and crap being tossed around as 'the best way' to lose weight is giving me a migraine.
even when i tell people how much ive lost and what i did to do that, they dont listen.
i dont even get involved.
i get my alcohol, chocolate and bread and they can go do whatever the heck they want to and be in the same place next year
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callsitlikeiseeit wrote: »internet, marketing, wooo science, dr oz, other similar shows.... wanting to believe theres a magic way or pill or shake instead of hard work and common sense.
theres actually a thread going on in my local (Facebook) community information page and the amount of BS and crap being tossed around as 'the best way' to lose weight is giving me a migraine.
even when i tell people how much ive lost and what i did to do that, they dont listen.
i dont even get involved.
i get my alcohol, chocolate and bread and they can go do whatever the heck they want to and be in the same place next year
Watch the eyes glaze over when somebody notices you've lost weight, asks how you did it and you reply "by eating less and moving more". It's not sexy and it involves discipline and work. Tell them you were washing raspberry ketones down with apple cider vinegar and taking Snakeoilogy and the "Thermo-Oxy-Nuclear Fat Destroyer" pill, and they eagerly want to hear more.0 -
People are dumb. Let's not overlook that fact. There are smart individuals, but the general population is as dumb as it gets. The diet & fitness industry does an amazing job at exploiting this fact. Plain and simple.0
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holothuroidea wrote: »My observation as a science educator is that most people lack scientific literacy and critical reading skills due to a large-scale lack of public interest and political will in the public education system. That's my short answer.
I came here to say pretty much exactly this. The last time I taught I had to spend nearly the entire semester attempting to teach voting adults the difference between a fact and an opinion. No, seriously. They literally did not understand the difference. And if you live in a world where everything is a matter of opinion and there's no such thing as objective fact, why wouldn't you just choose the opinion you already agree with?0 -
People love taking the easy way out-fast tracking, and believe false promises. IMO MFP is super easy to follow, it's just slower going than some people would like.0
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Because it's easier to "believe the woo" than to "do the do" i.e. put forth the effort required to achieve the results one wants.
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We are so used to getting instant gratification nowadays. People want what they want now and and are impatient.
It's sad but true. You have to have patience to appreciate good old fashioned healthy lifestyle.
If people don't know enough and see a shortcut that they think they think will work they are going to go running for it. I've had success with a few shortcuts, one of them in not allowed to mention on here, and the other was a protein shake diet that I did in junior high 13 years ago. I had no idea what I was really doing however so I gained it all back. Now that I understand the technicalities I feel like I appreciate the slow method of eating good and exercise more. I feel more accomplished as well.0 -
Its alarming how people ignore the simplest and most proven path to health - staying within your caloric limit and living a healthy, active lifestyle - and run towards complicated and ineffective methods.
I struggle with understanding why people crave pseudo-scientific BS, MLM-based "products, and fad-workouts that make them look like idiots in badly printed t-shirts.
Because it takes away personal responsibility: I did not do anything wrong, my lifestyle choices do not have anything to do with my weight or health, X or Y person are in better shape because he/she knows this magic trick.0 -
Its alarming how people ignore the simplest and most proven path to health - staying within your caloric limit and living a healthy, active lifestyle - and run towards complicated and ineffective methods.
I struggle with understanding why people crave pseudo-scientific BS, MLM-based "products, and fad-workouts that make them look like idiots in badly printed t-shirts.
People believe the Earth is flat and surrounded by a giant ice wall and that the government is hiding this from us (though why I don't know because they never answer that question). Most of these same people also don't believe in gravity. So, really, in the grand scheme, is it surprising they believe bad science about nutrition?0 -
Because math, science, and actually using your brain is hard.0
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Then you have the tv shows like "My Diet is Better Than Yours", hosted by Shawn T. Which I am watching for amusement. 5 people get to pick their own diet and work directly with the "expert" behind the diet. After working all week with the expert, they weigh in and get to decide whether they want to stay with that particular diet/expert or dump their diet/expert and get a new one. They can only switch diets once throughout the whole competition and the person at the end who has lost the most percentage of weight will win $50,000, BUT in order to get to weigh in at the last weigh in and win, they also have to complete a half marathon. THIS is why people are being brainwashed.. The so called "experts" on this show are absolutely crazy. When I watch, I think, are these people serious?0
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