Madison Gregory
English 101
Individual Summary Response
October 6, 2015
Controversy on Breakfast
Skipping breakfast is associated with gaining excess weight, according to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines (U.S. DG) made this statement based on theory, not proven fact. A New York experiment showed that when a group of test subjects did not eat, they lost weight compared to their counterparts who gained weight. An experiment from Columbia University showed that skipping breakfast often led to weight loss. "Men who ate breakfast were thirteen percent less likely to have significant weight gain," according to the journal Obesity in 2007 (Whoriskey par. 4)This is especially true in middle-aged to older men. These contradictions show that scientific estimates can easily be spread as facts throughout the United States. These guidelines had strong effects on many people and many federal programs, such as school lunches. People began to question how accurate the U.S. DG is, and then a few changes were made. Five years ago they decided that skipping breakfast could cause weight gain. Observational studies were used when finding that skipping breakfast causes weight gain, which means the subjects used were just being observed, not put in control groups. The main problem with observational studies is that other factors may be mistaken as causes for results. When conducting research on breakfast eating this way, adjustments based on lifestyle are taking into account, yet there still large amounts of negative criticism over observational studies. Almost all claims (90%) made using observational studies cannot be replicated according to S. Stanley Young (Whoriskey par. 13). Most scientists prefer controlled trials, yet there was only one in the U.S. DG. The committee decided that if children skip breakfast they have increased chances for gaining weight, while for adults the results were unclear. While not having strong evidence, there was enough to be included in the U.S. DG.
English 101
Individual Summary Response
October 6, 2015
Controversy on Breakfast
Skipping breakfast is associated with gaining excess weight, according to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines (U.S. DG) made this statement based on theory, not proven fact. A New York experiment showed that when a group of test subjects did not eat, they lost weight compared to their counterparts who gained weight. An experiment from Columbia University showed that skipping breakfast often led to weight loss. "Men who ate breakfast were thirteen percent less likely to have significant weight gain," according to the journal Obesity in 2007 (Whoriskey par. 4)This is especially true in middle-aged to older men. These contradictions show that scientific estimates can easily be spread as facts throughout the United States. These guidelines had strong effects on many people and many federal programs, such as school lunches. People began to question how accurate the U.S. DG is, and then a few changes were made. Five years ago they decided that skipping breakfast could cause weight gain. Observational studies were used when finding that skipping breakfast causes weight gain, which means the subjects used were just being observed, not put in control groups. The main problem with observational studies is that other factors may be mistaken as causes for results. When conducting research on breakfast eating this way, adjustments based on lifestyle are taking into account, yet there still large amounts of negative criticism over observational studies. Almost all claims (90%) made using observational studies cannot be replicated according to S. Stanley Young (Whoriskey par. 13). Most scientists prefer controlled trials, yet there was only one in the U.S. DG. The committee decided that if children skip breakfast they have increased chances for gaining weight, while for adults the results were unclear. While not having strong evidence, there was enough to be included in the U.S. DG.