Study Debunks Conventional Wisdom

CBS Evening News: New Evidence Suggests Age-Old Truisms Not Necessarily So True

(CBS)  For generations, mothers have doled out their own brand of medical advice, keeping their children bundled under hats in the winter, away from the fridge at night, and full of chicken soup when they're sick.

But a new study proves that many of those long-held medical truths aren't true at all, CBS News correspondent Richard Schlesinger reports.

"Sometimes they just get perpetuated, I think, because they come from people we respect -- from our parents, from teachers, and from doctors, and that causes us to believe they're true," says Indiana University medical professor Dr. Aaron Carroll.

Carroll and his colleague Dr. Rachel Vreeman took a scientific look at those popular beliefs for a report published today in the British Medical Journal.

Take the conventional wisdom about kids and sugar-that it makes them go wild for a couple hours.

The report found no connection between sugar and hyperactivity, and 12 highly scientific studies back that up. One of those studies concluded that "the differences in the children's behavior were all in the parents' minds."

Then there's the notion that eating at night is an invitation to packing on the pounds.

In reality, several studies have found "no link at all between eating at night and weight gain." Researchers have repeatedly found eating too much makes you fat, regardless of what time you have a meal.

And what about wearing a hat in cold weather?

Here's what the report found: "There is nothing special about the head and heat loss. Any uncovered part of the body loses heat and will reduce core body temperature proportionally."

"We look into this to try to, in a fun way, remind people that we should look at the science," Vreeman said.

There is some good news in the report for this time of year. Despite the conventional wisdom suicides do not appear to increase around the holidays.

One other thing: Despite what you've been told, poinsettias are not poisonous. In almost 23,000 cases where people ate poinsettia leaves, only 4 percent needed some kind of medical attention.

Another piece of conventional wisdom shattered.

[rwsmith29456]

I have done a study in my home that says sugar and caffeine are a deadly combination. Any of these myth busters are welcome to come to my home to see if it''s all in my head.

[stgenesius]

But, and I can''t stress this enough, running with sissors CAN be dangerous.

[wl7bzh]

How bout the old myth that if your great grandparents did not have children than more than likely you won''t either?

[wl7bzh]

How the one about matriculation causing blindness?

[wl7bzh]

How bout the one that women should be obscene and not heard?

[wl7bzh]

Is that true?

Posted by roger2123 at 07:51 PM : Dec 18, 2008

No, that is slanderous. Someone saying that about the soldier obviously has it in for him.

[pbkster]

If a man says something in the woods and nobody''s around to hear it is he still wrong

[pbkster]

If you have brown marks in your underwear it IS your fault not asphalt.

[puzzler125]

NEVER put butter on a burn (true). If you bite your nails a hand will grow in your stomach (false). If you pull out a grey hair two will grow in its place (false). What about swimming immediately after eating? I don''t know if it''s dangerous actually but I''ve done it and didn''t feel so hot (full stomach).

[tmn]

"I am told if you are a soldier on duty in Iraq for 14 continuous months and come home to find your wife six months pregnant, it''''s ain''''t immaculate conception. Is that true?"
---
This is HALF-true...the conception part.

[comeon11]

roger2123.....................God .

[spadeisspade]

My mom would never let me drink coffee when I was a kid, saying "It will stunt your growth". I always found that to be a quite adorable truism.

[freckster]

If you have brown marks in your underwear it IS your fault not asphalt.

Posted by pbkster

I suppose as long as I have lived I should have heard that one before. If I did, I don''t remember. Either way is was good for a laugh. A ROTFLMAO laugh. I''ve now posted it as a favorite quote on my facebook page. Thank you

[whitemale08]

How about the ''conventional wisdom'' that the Federal Reserve is part of the government?

How come there are millions of people who are waking up to the fact that the Federal Reserve is not part of the government.

At best it regulates the cartel of ''privaate banks'' that compose the Federal Reserve but a ''regulator'' is not power; it''s just a ''stamp of approval''.

The power given to the Federal Reserve under the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 is more then the President since it forces us to either ''spend/borrow'' or ''save'' our hard earned money.

That''s why this fallacy that the Federal Reserve is part of the government must be exposed and this private central bank must be shut down.

[kurlikew]

First - I can''t even believe the idiots that post stupid things on here that have nothing to do with the article. Get a life, morons, and take your stupid games elsewhere. Those of us with some functioning brain cells who actually have something to say about these articles don''t care to hear your childish stupidity.

Now I''ll comment on the idiocy of this article. I have no doubt that it was written and funded by the food and/or pharmaceutical industries, who are completely self-serving in all they do. Most of what you''re told by the media is bought and paid for by these huge, all-about-making-profits-at-any-cost industries.

I am a holistic health counselor by profession, and so I know what I''m talking about here. There is absolutely a connection between sugar consumption and hyperactivity. Not only is that affected by sugar, but also by artificial colors and flavors. I have worked with clients time and time again who are able to improve their health and change their children''s behavior simply through making modifications to their diet. They are also able to maintain a healthy weight. The "things your mothers and grandmothers told you" are often a lot closer to the truth than what you''ll hear from the media or from your doctor.

[snoweer]

I have eaten immediately after swimming and there were no ill effects.

However, if you are a dim-witted self-promoting hockey mom from a rural state and you shoot moose from a helicopter and can''t remember the name of a single newspaper that you read you can be considered a candidate for president of the United States. Is this true?

I can see Canada from my house.

[muhammed6]

No, No, No, The LATEST study shows that the only good things are steak and potatoes, with lots of salt and lots of beer.

And you know when you shake hands and touch public bathrooms? it is a good policy to touch your nose and mouth BEFORE you wash hands.

[muhammed6]

No, No, No, The LATEST study shows that the only good things are steak and potatoes, with lots of salt and lots of beer.

And you know when you shake hands and touch public bathrooms? it is a good policy to touch your nose and mouth BEFORE you wash hands.

Another myth is just one nuclear bomb can ruin your whole day!

[shanev137]

My favorite classic:

"too much whacking-off will make you go blind"

[wtex44]

The article indicates a %u201Cnew study%u201D reports...What new study? Is this the same %u201Cnew study%u201D that claims I can loose 10 pounds a day a get rich quick? This is kind of article I expect to see in check out line magazines that make outrages claims. Please provide at least some information about the study itself.

[bshtdetector]

So much for ''myth busting.'' A real scientist would have pointed out that a cold or wet head - in cool weather - might increase vulnerability to infection (depending on the individual, the temperature differential, and other factors). No surprise to mom, or the survival instructor.

The same scientist might also mention a number of reasons why eating immediately prior to sleep, or during the night, is not a great health plan (regardless of your weight). Again, no surprise to mom.

So, let''s hear it for our moms, who, by and large, DO know what''s best for us!

This article should become the "Classic Example" of Big Pharma disinformation. CBS knows where their advertising dollars are coming from.

[lady54-2009]

"Study Busts Conventional Wisdom Myths"

IN YOU''RE DREAMS!

I would walk carefully before I throw out any time proven wisdoms.

The human beast and the human condition are both more complex than all the new doctors put together. The new doctors possess more ego and arrogance than wisdom.

[vcofreason]

Government workers.

[vcofreason]

Government workers.

[vcofreason]

Government workers.

[vcofreason]

Government workers.

[powmadeak47]

uhhhhhhh, so the infra-red cameras that show the head to be exuding more heat are broken????????? I am in my cold room in Minnesota right now. I don''t need to wear gloves but I sure do need a hat.

[shoe200-2009]

"The president harbors no hard feelings about it, and the Iraqis have a process that they''ll follow," Perino said. "But he did urge them not to overreact, because he was not bothered by the incident, although it''s not appropriate for people to throw shoes at a press conference, at any leader."

Could yet another study determine the myths involved in the above situation ? In the meanwhile I am going to feed my kids a sugared poinsettia leaf and send them out to play in the blizzard without their hats ! You bettcha !

[alphaa10000]

roger2123 asks, "Is it a myth that matriculation can make you blind?"

---
No, Roger. Matriculation is merely the onset phase-- it is the following cogitation that nails you.

(Keep those cards and letters coming in, folks.)

[alphaa10000]

roger2123 continues, "Is it a conventional myth that a soldier who returned home after serving 14 continuous months to a six-month pregnant wife is lucky because she is going to have an immaculate conception?"

---
Actually, you have your doctrines a bit mixed up.

Do a Wikipedia study of the terms, "Immaculate Conception" and (separately) "Virgin Birth".

You might actually learn something.

[alphaa10000]

Mr. Schlesinger, your CBS report begs for an encore. Or, maybe a website devoted to roasting the conventional wisdoms-- there seem to be so many.

Just as Wall Street passed along toxic bond paper, so certain bogus "facts" (sometimes termed "factoids") were passed along in the last election. We all know at least one...

Here is a website which will endear itself to you as you try to track down that pesky rumor about (insert your rumor, here). See--

www.snopes.com

If you like, Snopes also will put you on an emailed "alert" list for updates and hot items. Be the first in your block to know an urban legend when it bites you.

[alphaa10000]

1. BShtDetector said, "A real scientist would have pointed out that a cold or wet head - in cool weather - might increase vulnerability to infection ... No surprise to mom, or the survival instructor..."
---
A real poster would not have asked that question. The study does not address infection, though others have (and found no link). This study states simply the (uncovered) head loses heat at a rate proportional to its area. Nothing more.

2. BShtDetector said, "The same scientist might also mention a number of reasons why eating immediately prior to sleep, or during the night, is not a great health plan ... Again, no surprise to mom.
---
Methinks Mom doth protest too much. Do you desperately need this study to confirm your own vows regarding late snacks?

3. BShtDetector said, "So, let''s hear it for our moms, who, by and large, DO know what''s best for us!
---
By and large, is that a plaintive appeal, or a direct order?

And more to the point, did you father have any opinions of value? Did anyone else?

[markjessup1]

AUTISM IS CAUSED BY DIET COKE

[markjessup1]

AUTISM IS CAUSED BY DIET COKE

[markjessup1]

AUTISM IS CAUSED BY DIET COKE

[markjessup1]

AUTISM IS CAUSED BY DIET COKE

The studies that found no effect from eating at night may not have gone on long enough since the idea is that high blood sugar levels at night inhibit the nocturnal surge in growth hormone. This in turn inhibits muscle growth or renewal. A decline in muscle mass would show up over time not as increased weight but in the form of increased percentage body fat. In any case this article provides no references and no data and more importantly no definition of what "increased pounds" means.

The studies that found no effect from eating at night may not have gone on long enough since the idea is that high blood sugar levels at night inhibit the nocturnal surge in growth hormone. This in turn inhibits muscle growth or renewal. A decline in muscle mass would show up over time not as increased weight but in the form of increased percentage body fat. In any case this article provides no references and no data and more importantly no definition of what "increased pounds" means.

[slim1h2o]

And here''s yet another myth that has been perpetuated since the 60''s.

Work hard, pay your taxes and you too can carve out a decent life here in the U.S.

Known as the American dream..........

[erick_-2009]

The biggest myth here is that a "medical study" should be taken without a pinch of salt just because it''s a "study". Studies like these abound and come to conclusions of all varieties.

[erick_-2009]

The biggest myth here is that a "medical study" should be taken without a pinch of salt just because it''s a "study". Studies like these abound and come to conclusions of all varieties.

[erick_-2009]

The biggest myth here is that a "medical study" should be taken without a pinch of salt just because it''s a "study". Studies like these abound and come to conclusions of all varieties.

[nikkicatt1]

In the early 70''s my nephew was diagnosed as hyperactve. The Doctor wanted to give him Rytalin. Since our family prefers holistic healing, we decided to get a second opinion. Even back then we knew of the side affects of these drugs. The second Dr. recommended cutting out white sugar, white flour and all preservatives. It was not easy as he had to grow up eating home cooked everything. No fast food or "store bought" candy. My cousin grew up to be a healthy adult. Do not believe all of these "studies".

[inmaryland1]

So we have hair on our heads for no reason?

[slim1h2o]

nikkicatt1;

So which one was it? Your cousin, or nephew?

[debinok1]

It has been proven time and time again that studies are usually designed to achieve the desrired results of those funding the studies, Unless it is a double blind study conducted by a panel of scientists where the data is available afterwards, dont pay it much attention.

[redstripe11]

Right, and I suppose next they''re going to come out with a study claiming that Green M&M''s DON''t make you h0rny. Studies, schmudies!

[redveg]

I would like to see the methodology and data involved here, as well as who paid for the study. The phrase "highly scientific" is the first clue that it is a load of ***. If they used correct statistical sample gathering and analysis methodologies, there would be no need to try to quantify scientific with an adjective like highly; they could simply state their methodologies.

[mitdgreenb]

"All int he parents'' minds"

Well, perception IS reality... especially when that reality is managing a child who is running around uncontrollably. I invite the folks who did the study to occupy my child before and after he''s had a bunch of M&M''s. Which brings up two points:

1) The study studies the average. On average, perhaps sugar has no effect. In specific cases, sugar clearly has an effect. And there are clearly enough of these cases that the conventional wisdom is perpetuated. These folks should be looking at these "exceptional" cases: they might discover something useful rather than wasting time and money telling us something useless.

2) Whose money was wasted on this? Almost certainly a government grant. MY money. I want MY money spent on useful science.

"The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not Eureka! (I found it!) but rather, ''hmm... that''s funny...''"
- Isaac Asimov