Hot on HuffPost Parents:
Susan Maushart: Digital Guilt: Mommy, Her iPad, and Me
Jim Medalia: Mentoring or Meddling - When Do You Stop Parenting?
Breaking news: studies contradict each other
Filed under: Your Pregnancy, Health & Safety: Babies, Nutrition: Health
Earlier today Keith McDuffee wrote about research which suggests
children who are breastfed are less likely to have weight problems later in life. Surprise another study dismisses that
research finding no correlation between breastfeeding and future weight issues.The study by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition used different methods to determine weight and fat rather than the previous body mass index measure previous studies had used. The researchers were quick to point out that this study in no way diminishes the wonderful benefits of breastfeeding. It simply cautions against overstating the obesity prevention benefits of breastfeeding.
So pretty much, I think you should do what you want and find a study to support that decision. I'm sure there's one out there. In fact I've decided to feed my children llama's milk exclusively and I found a study which assures me they'll be admitted to an ivy league school at 10 years old as a result. Wish me luck!












ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
3-10-2006 @ 12:42PM
thordora said...can someone find me one that correlates blogging to increased productivity at work? I'd love to have one like that! :)
Reply
3-10-2006 @ 12:54PM
suburban misfit said...Woo! Llama's milk! And then you can make sweaters for them from the...hair? Fur?
Reply
3-10-2006 @ 1:00PM
MelissaS said...Yes, studies have found that children who wear llama fur sweaters are less likely to be overweight.
Reply
3-10-2006 @ 1:02PM
Tara said...Isn't that just ridiculous! No wonder people get confused! So much info and the "experts" can't even get it straight!
Reply
3-10-2006 @ 1:02PM
Kim said...We had a similar issue with conflicting research. My son was born with preauricular skin tags and a friend asked if he'd had a kidney ultrasound. Her friend had two ultrasounds before her baby was released from the hospital. News to us. I did some searching and found two studies, one saying there was a link between preauricular skin tags and kidney malformation and another saying there was no link. I talked to my son's doctor about it (news to him too, except he said ears and kidneys develop around the same time in utero so it's possible...) and he ordered the test, probably more to put my mind at ease than for any good medical reason. Oliver's kidneys are fine and a lovely plastic surgeon made the tags go away.
Reply
3-10-2006 @ 1:02PM
momma2mingbu said...You can find a study that will support any stance you want to take. You have to look at who conducted it, who paid for it and how it was conducted in order to figure out how reliable the information really is.
Reply
3-10-2006 @ 1:04PM
Ms Sisyphus said...My study can totally kick your study's ass.
Reply
3-10-2006 @ 1:05PM
CJ said...Yes studies also found that childrenthat drink ONLY Llama's milk also learn to spit at a very early age ! LOL
Reply
3-10-2006 @ 1:09PM
MelissaS said...Momma2Mingu: you're right that is valuable to know but still the studies (even being from reliable sources with reliable methods of study) are often contradictory and even false.
I suppose they're all valuable though to lead us to real answers, but too often people take the studies as 'gospel'.
Except the llama's milk study, that's totally true and gospel.
Reply
3-10-2006 @ 1:36PM
suburban misfit said...Melissa, studies also show that mothers who let their children drink llama milk and wear llama sweaters are also smarter than average. Oh, and prettier, too.
The problem with studies is that so many lay-people still think that correlation = causation. The first thing I learned in my scientific method research classes was that one has to be *very careful* about assuming causation. I think some researchers have forgotten that fact, too.
Reply
3-10-2006 @ 1:53PM
Tara said...Right--about the correlation does NOT equal causation. I think the media forgets that because look at how info is portrayed.
Reply
3-10-2006 @ 2:34PM
LS said...Ok, I totally have llama's milk coming out my nose, I'm laughing so hard... my study can kick your study's ass!!!! Thanks, gang, for a much-needed laughing fit.
Reply