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Educate your patients on the importance of 3-A-Day of Dairy: Here's
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tool (PDF: 618k) to show families how to get their 3-A-Day of Dairy
every day for stronger bones.
Developed in conjunction with The American Academy of Family
Physicians, The American Academy of Pediatrics, The American Dietetic
Association, and The National Medical Association.
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Dairy Council Digest Archives
Good Science: Its Role In Setting the Record Straight
Summary
As a result of increased media coverage of findings from new scientific studies, the public is more aware of the relationship between diet and health than ever before. Because of contradictory stories in the media, however, the public is confused about their diets. Consumers often misinterpret contradictory findings as scientific indecision and do not appreciate that nutrition science is evolving. Recent campaigns by various special interest groups distort scientific facts about diet and health and add to the public's anxiety about what to eat for good health.
The public gets most of its information about diet and health from television and magazines. Other sources include newspapers, books, family/friends, the Internet, and health professionals such as physicians and dietitians. Although the public looks less frequently to physicians and dietitians than to the media for diet and health information, these health professionals are regarded as the most credible source.
The media, along with other groups, can contribute to the public's confusion about diet and health by dramatizing, overstating, and oversimplifying the results of new nutrition studies. In particular, lack of context or insufficient background information in media stories can lead to the public's confusion.
In recent years, various special interest groups with political and ideological agendas have embarked on an anti-milk campaign to discourage the public from consuming milk and other dairy foods. Their claims are contrary to the preponderance of scientific evidence and dietary recommendations that strongly support dairy foods' beneficial role in health.
Conflicting messages in the media and claims made by special interest groups that differ from dietary recommendations issued by government agencies and reputable scientific organizations can lead the public to completely disregard dietary recommendations and consume less healthful diets. Subsequent nutrition backlash may make it more difficult for health professionals to move the public toward more healthful diets. Anti-milk campaigns can further aggravate this country's calcium crisis and increase the risk for chronic diseases such as osteoporosis and hypertension, among other disorders.
The public needs to be aware of signs of "junk" science such as claims that sound too good to be true or recommendations based on a single study. Well-communicated, science-based information about diet and health can positively influence public health. Nutrition scientists, journal editors, journalists, health professionals, industry, consumers, and others can play a positive role in improving the public's understanding of nutrition and health.
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