Misleading
2018’s most popular health article wrongly claims that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol
Claim:
Federal study finds marijuana a hundred times less toxic than alcohol, safer than tobacco
Flora Teoh
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Source: urhealthguide, John Regan, 2018-01-04 -
Scientists discuss the widely shared Huffington Post article “Everything You Know About Obesity Is Wrong”
The article failed to place the science in context and overstated scientific confidence, resulting in flawed conclusions. Reviewers also pointed out the bias present in the article which discussed only the negative aspects of obese people’s interactions with society and the medical establishment, while glossing over how both groups have worked to help promote healthy living and weight loss in the obese, such as in the implementation of sugar taxes and the development of medical interventions like bariatric surgery.
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InaccurateClaim that the World Health Organization finds “bacon as harmful as cigarettes” is inaccurate and misleading
Claim:
World Health Organization Officially Declares Bacon is as Harmful as Cigarettes
Source: Truth Reporter, Anonymous, 2018-07-10 -
-1.3LowViral news article misinterprets classification of processed meat as carcinogenic in claiming it is “as harmful as cigarettes”
“The classification of processed meat as “Group 1” – carcinogenic to humans means that the evidence is as strong as for other risk factors included in the Group 1 category, including tobacco. It does not mean that the risk is the same. While Cancer Research UK estimates that 19% of all cancers are caused by tobacco, processed meat is estimated to cause 3% of all cancers. The presentation of the facts in this article is therefore inaccurate, confusing and misleading to the readers.”
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1.5Very highTime article accurately describes distinguishing features between influenza infection and infection by other respiratory viruses
“Generally accurate. However, the main issue is that influenza viruses can also cause a “cold”, i.e. upper respiratory tract infection. A “cold” is a symptom/diagnosis whereas “influenza” is a virus that can cause symptoms such as a cold. There could be a better distinction by saying there are lots of viruses (flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus (HMPV), rhinovirus, coronavirus, etc.) that cause respiratory infections including ‘colds’ and ‘chest infections’.”
