Diet Research Scandal
88olds
Posts: 4,605 Member
Hat tip NorthCascades on Debate: Health and Fitness board.
Amid this latest course in the scandal, Cornell reported today, September 20, that Wansink has resigned from his position, effective at the end of the current academic year. In a statement emailed to Ars, Cornell Provost Michael Kotlikoff said that an internal investigation by a faculty committee found that “Professor Wansink committed academic misconduct in his research and scholarship, including misreporting of research data, problematic statistical techniques, failure to properly document and preserve research results, and inappropriate authorship.”
As Ars has reported before, the retractions, corrections, and today's resignation all stem from Wansink’s own admission of statistical scavenging to find meaningful conclusions in otherwise messy dieting data. The result is that many common dieting tips—such as using smaller plates to trick yourself into shoveling in less food and stashing unhealthy snacks in hard-to-reach places—are now on the cutting board and possibly destined for the garbage bin.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/09/six-new-retractions-for-now-disgraced-researcher-purges-common-diet-tips/
Amid this latest course in the scandal, Cornell reported today, September 20, that Wansink has resigned from his position, effective at the end of the current academic year. In a statement emailed to Ars, Cornell Provost Michael Kotlikoff said that an internal investigation by a faculty committee found that “Professor Wansink committed academic misconduct in his research and scholarship, including misreporting of research data, problematic statistical techniques, failure to properly document and preserve research results, and inappropriate authorship.”
As Ars has reported before, the retractions, corrections, and today's resignation all stem from Wansink’s own admission of statistical scavenging to find meaningful conclusions in otherwise messy dieting data. The result is that many common dieting tips—such as using smaller plates to trick yourself into shoveling in less food and stashing unhealthy snacks in hard-to-reach places—are now on the cutting board and possibly destined for the garbage bin.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/09/six-new-retractions-for-now-disgraced-researcher-purges-common-diet-tips/
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Is there anybody we can trust? I remember reading his book "Mindless Eating ". This news is depressing.1
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Although we have found the smaller plate idea effective.1
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Wow. One of the biggies goes down in flames.
I would imagine most of us have read a Wansink book - if only Mindless Eating.
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I have not seen any of his research nor read his books, yet use at least the two mentioned techniques of smaller portions and 'out of sight; out of mind'. Less calories is still less calories, no matter how one arrives there, right?0
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I'm embarrassed to say I didn't recognize the name. Embarrassed only because I try to stay 'up to date' on the medical literature related to eating behavior and weight management.
That said, there is one important point that shouldn't be lost here. Which is, "Absence of proof of effect is not proof of absence of effect." Which is to say just because his research didn't prove the hypotheses (whether about shopping patterns or serving bowl size) doesn't mean the hypothesis is incorrect. It just means it's unproven.
So, budding behavioral scientists, there's an opening here...0 -
This discussion has been closed.