Dr. Layne Norton

So I can start creating this narrative that smoking, but we know smoking is not good for you. It's not good for you. It raises the risk of lung cancer, all different kinds of cancers, cardiovascular disease, massive increase in risk, right? But I could thread the needle of science using these cherry-picked studies. And so what I'll tell people is if I go into a topic, if I go into something,

So I can start creating this narrative that smoking, but we know smoking is not good for you. It's not good for you. It raises the risk of lung cancer, all different kinds of cancers, cardiovascular disease, massive increase in risk, right? But I could thread the needle of science using these cherry-picked studies. And so what I'll tell people is if I go into a topic, if I go into something,

What I'm looking for, highest quality of evidence, is first off, do we have some meta-analyses on this topic?

What I'm looking for, highest quality of evidence, is first off, do we have some meta-analyses on this topic?

What I'm looking for, highest quality of evidence, is first off, do we have some meta-analyses on this topic?

Absolutely. So a meta-analysis is basically we are trying to compile studies that ask similar questions and look at what is the overall effect? Do we have a consensus in the literature? And usually they're going to show some kind of forest plot of all these studies. And however far right or left of the center line is kind of giving you an idea of how powerful the effect was in that study.

Absolutely. So a meta-analysis is basically we are trying to compile studies that ask similar questions and look at what is the overall effect? Do we have a consensus in the literature? And usually they're going to show some kind of forest plot of all these studies. And however far right or left of the center line is kind of giving you an idea of how powerful the effect was in that study.

Absolutely. So a meta-analysis is basically we are trying to compile studies that ask similar questions and look at what is the overall effect? Do we have a consensus in the literature? And usually they're going to show some kind of forest plot of all these studies. And however far right or left of the center line is kind of giving you an idea of how powerful the effect was in that study.

And then you can see the confidence intervals in terms of how much variability there was. And then you can see the thickness of the dot on there, which shows how much it contributed to the overall study. analysis by usually how many subjects were in it.

And then you can see the confidence intervals in terms of how much variability there was. And then you can see the thickness of the dot on there, which shows how much it contributed to the overall study. analysis by usually how many subjects were in it.

And then you can see the confidence intervals in terms of how much variability there was. And then you can see the thickness of the dot on there, which shows how much it contributed to the overall study. analysis by usually how many subjects were in it.

Exactly. And so you're trying to... Now, you can do a bad meta-analysis based on inclusion criteria, you know, and that's where it's important to look at. But let me give you an example of a meta-analysis I cite pretty frequently. The inclusion criteria is very important to make sure that you answer the question that you want to answer. And I say this when you're reading scientific studies.

Exactly. And so you're trying to... Now, you can do a bad meta-analysis based on inclusion criteria, you know, and that's where it's important to look at. But let me give you an example of a meta-analysis I cite pretty frequently. The inclusion criteria is very important to make sure that you answer the question that you want to answer. And I say this when you're reading scientific studies.

Exactly. And so you're trying to... Now, you can do a bad meta-analysis based on inclusion criteria, you know, and that's where it's important to look at. But let me give you an example of a meta-analysis I cite pretty frequently. The inclusion criteria is very important to make sure that you answer the question that you want to answer. And I say this when you're reading scientific studies.

I'm like, listen... Just because there's a headline in even a paper, just because the conclusion says something, that is the author's opinion. You need to check to see, did they actually test what they're talking about? And are the tests they use valid? So this meta-analysis was looking at lower carb diets versus higher carb diets or low fat diets.

I'm like, listen... Just because there's a headline in even a paper, just because the conclusion says something, that is the author's opinion. You need to check to see, did they actually test what they're talking about? And are the tests they use valid? So this meta-analysis was looking at lower carb diets versus higher carb diets or low fat diets.

I'm like, listen... Just because there's a headline in even a paper, just because the conclusion says something, that is the author's opinion. You need to check to see, did they actually test what they're talking about? And are the tests they use valid? So this meta-analysis was looking at lower carb diets versus higher carb diets or low fat diets.

And the inclusion criteria, this was done by Kevin Hall of the NIH back in 2017, I want to say. And I thought he did a great job at the inclusion criteria, which was we're only going to include controlled feeding trials where the food is provided to participants because obviously we know the limitations of, you know, free living studies with nutrition.

And the inclusion criteria, this was done by Kevin Hall of the NIH back in 2017, I want to say. And I thought he did a great job at the inclusion criteria, which was we're only going to include controlled feeding trials where the food is provided to participants because obviously we know the limitations of, you know, free living studies with nutrition.

And the inclusion criteria, this was done by Kevin Hall of the NIH back in 2017, I want to say. And I thought he did a great job at the inclusion criteria, which was we're only going to include controlled feeding trials where the food is provided to participants because obviously we know the limitations of, you know, free living studies with nutrition.