Nutrition for the Masses - Writing Effectively about Nutritional Research for the Public - Working Draft Magazine
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Nutrition for the Masses
Writing Effectively about Nutritional Research for
the Public
Table of Contents
Introduction..................................................................................................................1
Sensationalism in Headlines...........................................................................................1
Comparison: Sensationalism in Headlines........................................................................2
How to Avoid Sensationalist Writing.........................................................................................3
Nutrition Trends in the Media..........................................................................................3
Comparison: Nutrition Trends in the Media.......................................................................4
Research in the Media.....................................................................................................5
Current Diets and Trends..........................................................................................................5
Comparison: Research in the Media..................................................................................6
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................7
Endnotes.......................................................................................................................8
Bibliography..................................................................................................................9Introduction Sensationalism in Headlines
People search constantly for the next best diet or When it comes to writing about diets and nutrition,
nutrition trend. Media outlets report on these diets the first thing readers interact with is the headline.
with catchy, but sometimes misleading, headlines. Naturally, you want your headline to be intriguing
This leads to the misrepresentation of nutrition and enough for readers to click on, especially when
diet information. writing for an online audience. Audiences for these
articles look for something eye-catching to click on.1
How we find and share information is always Even after clicking on it, the chance these readers
changing. With the internet, nearly everyone will read the whole article is small — even smaller if
can share information, which can be dangerous the content isn’t what the headline promised.
when the information being shared is wrong or
misrepresented. Depending on the source of this information, the
motivation for getting people to read it is going
Many news and media outlets write about nutrition to vary. Online and digital sources rely on click-
and diets. While not all media outlets are created throughs from readers to maintain a website, or even
equal, it is important to note how these outlets a single page of a website. Because nutritional and
report on this information. Some newspapers diet information is so trendy, it gets shared on social
and media outlets do their best to present the media with an image that helps sensationalize the
information in an unbiased and easy-to-understand headline. An intriguing headline with an engaging
way. Other media outlets with a larger presence picture often results in click-throughs.
online take this information and do different things
with it. Some spin it by creating catchy headlines to The headline is the best opportunity to draw readers
get clicks and others take the research and present it in and for readers to understand what an article is
in a way that is not entirely true. about. Headline writers can be tempted to choose
words and phrases they know will grab attention,
As a result, audiences are misled when reading these which leads to misleading headlines. As a result,
articles. People won’t read the whole article if they the subject of an article becomes misleading for the
feel they aren’t getting the information they need to audience.
fully understand a subject.
Making nutritional information engaging and correct
is a challenge. Reputable sources have learned how
to do this well, while tabloids and other sources have
not.
This paper will examine three different aspects
of health and nutrition articles: its headline, its
relevance in the media, and how it discusses
research. There will be two examples in each
category comparing a trustworthy source with
a misleading source. These comparisons will be
followed by recommendations for making sure
your writing about nutrition, health, or lifestyle is
engaging and correct.
1COMPARISON
Sensationalism in Headlines
WHAT IS WRONG? WHAT IS DONE WELL?
The headline for this article will motivate readers
who are looking to lose weight to click on it. It The subject matter is well presented in the article’s
implies losing weight is easy and fast, which headline. The headline does not rely on making
is attractive for anyone who wants a quick fix. it sound easy and quick. If a reader were to click
Unfortunately, weight loss is never quick or easy, and through to the article, they would find valuable
none of these seven steps will help people maintain information applicable to losing weight.
a healthy weight loss.
WHY IS IT DONE THAT WAY? WHY IS IT DONE THAT WAY?
This particular example is written in a way to
Articles with this kind of headline rely on click- counteract discussion around diets and trends
throughs to the website. This headline may get prevalent in the media. It presents basic information
people excited about losing weight, especially after in a way that helps dispel myths and tips that others
the headline implies it will be quick and easy. use to make weight loss seem easier than it actually
is.
HOW CAN IT BE DONE BETTER? WHAT CAN WE LEARN?
This article is accessible and has a quick and snappy
Making changes to the language used in this headline
headline, but here readers have the added benefit of
would make it more realistic. Unfortunately, making
knowing the information within is based on science.
these changes will probably not have the same effect
Having credible sources contributes to making your
on web traffic.
article a valuable resource for your audience.
2How to Avoid Sensationalist Writing
It can be challenging to write something about nutrition that will draw readers in. The reality of nutrition and
health research is that it takes time. If a reader were to incorporate any kind of dietary change, the effects
wouldn’t be instantaneous. This can be hard to communicate to readers and still ensure they’ll continue reading.
As a writer, there are a few ways you can do this. First, do your own research. You have an obligation to portray a
sense of confidence in what you write. Make sure you educate yourself by researching properly. You don’t need
to become an expert, but you need to have a solid understanding of your topic.
Look into your sources and determine whether their research is accurate. You want to have a basic
understanding of what the research is and why it was conducted. You also need to evaluate the following in order
to write about a topic confidently:
• Credibility of the research institution.
• Integrity of the study investigators, if it was peer-reviewed.
• Reliability of other researchers.
When it comes to writing, whether it’s a newspaper article or something for a consumer, learn the buzzwords and
phrases that go with a nutrition trend. These will change as trends change. Learn what they are and try to avoid
them. These same rules apply for catchy phrases. Some phrases never go out of style, like “Lose weight fast…”,
and some phrases come and go with other trends, like “10 Health Benefits of…”
While avoiding catchy phrases and buzzwords may not draw as many readers, based on your own credentials
and the research you have done, readers will know they can trust what they are reading.
Nutrition Trends in the Media make claims about weight loss that keto diet users
do.
Trends in nutrition and diets are immensely popular.
As soon as there is a new trend to be reported on, In the past, other diets — like Atkins, paleo, or raw
the media will cover it.2 People share testimonials food — have gained popularity using prominent
with the media increasing awareness and interest in lifestyle figures to promote or endorse them. Oprah
new diet trends. Some diet trends are endorsed by Winfrey used the power of her brand, which included
celebrities or influencers and will go viral on social a television show and magazine, to endorse the
media, even though most of them do not have the Atkins diet.
qualifications to speak knowledgably about a diet.
For the purpose of this paper, a “diet” is a way of
eating that restricts certain foods, whether it’s for
health reasons or to simply lose weight. A diet will
always have you in a calorie-deficit whether you
restrict carbohydrates, protein, or fat. The purpose of
a diet is for you to be eating less than what you need
for your body to function optimally.
The Ketogenic diet is an excellent example of a
diet that has gained popularity from exposure on
social media. Without the extreme before-and-after
pictures of people using the diet, it would be hard to
3COMPARISON
Nutrition Trends in the Media
WHAT IS WRONG? WHAT IS DONE WELL?
The article is a one-sided look at the effects and
perceived health benefits of low-carb and Ketogenic The article is written in an easy to understand way,
diets. The intended audience for this article is not despite coming from Harvard’s medical school.
going to know a lot about nutrition or nutrition It simply explains what the health effects are of
research. Readers are not going to think twice about following the ketogenic diet, over both a long and
the words “health benefits” in the title, nor will they short period of time.
going to look for any further information.
WHY IS IT DONE THAT WAY? WHY IS IT DONE THAT WAY?
This article makes it easy for readers to make a quick
decision about switching to the Ketogenic diet. This article comes from a well-respected source.
Because the diet is already trendy, this article, and They would be doing a disservice to their
the way the information has been presented, easily audiences and stakeholders if they shared false or
sways readers who are not knowledgeable about misrepresented information.
diets and how they affect the body.
HOW CAN IT BE DONE BETTER? WHAT CAN WE LEARN?
A simple way to improve this article would be to When directly compared with the other article’s
include other research related to low-carb and content about Ketogenic diets, you can see that
Ketogenic diets. If a writer can share accurate this writer has presented his audience with all the
information with the reader, they have a chance to information, not only the information which makes it
make an informed decision. sound appealing.
4Current Diets and Trends
Current popular diet trends are high-fat or low-carb diets, both of which limit a significant nutrient. The most
common one is the Ketogenic diet, which promotes a diet high in extremely fatty foods.3 For some on this diet,
they consume close to 80 per cent of their calories each day from fat.4 This includes everything from bacon to
butter.
A low-carb diet is your classic Atkins diet. Once it was promoted and endorsed by Oprah Winfrey, its popularity
sky-rocketed and many people concerned with losing weight stopped eating carbohydrates, and consequently
lost a lot of weight. Today, not many people follow the Atkins diet per se, but many follow a diet based on the
original idea: reduce carbs and you’ll lose weight.
So, what makes one diet better than another? For most, it has to do with trends and who is following which
diet, what the results are, and how fast these results occur. For others, when they see a diet with fast results,
it becomes something they simply must try. Many people will try every diet they can think of and then will say
nothing worked for them.
Research in the Media
Most of what we read about nutrition and diets, When a media outlet can be in danger of publishing
whether on social or traditional media, is based on harmful and misleading content if it writes about a
research. This research takes many years and a lot new diet or research without bothering to read more
of money to ensure it is conducted ethically and about it. When writers pick and choose what to write
appropriately. Conclusions can be complicated and about, they may not be telling a story representative
hard to explain. In the process of research being of the larger picture. A single person’s story isn’t
translated into terms the public will understand, representative of the effect of a diet. Similarly, a
the meaning and purpose can get lost. The end writer using only one study to complete their article
result is lost in translation, so when people read is not giving a broad enough view to be reliable.5
or hear about the research, they only get part of
the message. This can lead to research being taken To prevent this from happening, make sure you do
out of context by the time it reaches its intended your own thorough research before writing. Being
audience. aware of other views and research will help you
ensure your own writing representing a topic fairly.
There are a few different ways this confusion can
happen, either intentionally or unintentionally. In
both scenarios, misinformation can be prevented.
Mostly it can be controlled by the writer or editor,
but both need to be aware enough to ensure they are
publishing reliable and responsible information.
One of the best examples of this happening
unintentionally is when the writer isn’t educated or
prepared enough to write about a particular topic. If
a writer is assigned a story or has to write about new
research, and they don’t know enough about it to
understand it themselves, their work misinforms the
reader.
5COMPARISON
Research in the Media
WHAT IS WRONG? WHAT IS DONE WELL?
This article is an example of sharing a variety of
research in a science-based article. The author
This article focuses completely on a single study
shares other research related to this topic and
about tofu and its perceived negative effects on male
discusses what other people who study and research
hormones. It underrepresents other research on the
this theory think. He presents all information and
same issue. The study also only follows 25 people,
gives the reader the best opportunity to make an
which isn’t a large enough sample size to draw a
informed decision. As a former athlete, the writer
definitive conclusion.
would understand the effect of the research from
personal experience.
WHY IS IT DONE THAT WAY? WHY IS IT DONE THAT WAY?
The article is presented in a nationally recognized
newspaper and as such is held to a certain standard.
The Daily Mail has a reputation for being a tabloid,
This article was written this way not only to appeal to
and this author is likely writing this article for the
their audience, but because they have the resources
number of click-throughs it would get.
to find the appropriate person to write such a
specific piece.
HOW CAN IT BE DONE BETTER? WHAT CAN WE LEARN?
By expanding the scope of the article to look at other
From this article, we can learn how using a wide
studies of larger groups of people, the author could
range of research can support an idea or theory in an
have given a better representation of the real effects
article.
of tofu on male hormones.
6Conclusion
Knowing how to write about research and scientific-based topics will help you think critically about you and your
peers’ work. Sometimes you’ll notice more than one issue in an article.
Here are some things to remember when writing about science and research:
Know your audience and where they get their information from.6 Your writing isn’t their only source of
information. They likely spend time online and read newspapers. They talk with friends and family about what
they read or saw online or in the news. Your audience expects to find credible information from these sources.
If you’re writing as a representative of any organization, regardless of whether it’s a news outlet or health
organization, you’re expected to uphold its values and reputation.
Research is always changing.7 While many media outlets report around the clock, many research studies last for
years in order to reach conclusions, especially in dietary research. It may not move quickly, like trends and fads,
but research and the science behind it is important to understand, especially when writing about it. Research
has a different sense of time than media outlets. It takes time for the research to be published at a university or
hospital. What researchers consider “new” may be two years old to them, but it’s still considered news to those
writing about it.
There isn’t one single solution that will help everyone. When you’re writing about nutrition and health, diets
are not absolutes, and it’s unethical to present information that way. People need to have all the information
about a diet before they can make a decision about it. A writer’s job is to give readers all the required information,
so they have the best opportunity to make informed decisions about their health.
7Endnotes
1 Gynn, Ann. “Clickbait Content: Is it Good or Bad?” Content Marketing Institute. December 4, 2018.
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2 Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Nutrition Research and Mass Media: An Introduction
(website). Accessed November 18, 2019. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/media-full-story/
3 Harvard Medical School. Ketogenic diet: Is the ultimate low-carb diet good for you? (website). Ac-
cessed February 1, 2020.
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/ketogenic-diet-is-the-ultimate-low-carb-diet-good-for-
you-2017072712089
4 Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Diet Review: Ketogenic Diet for Weight Loss. (website).
Accessed March 12, 2020.
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/healthy-weight/diet-reviews/ketogenic-diet/
5 Gallegos, Jenna. “Nutrition science isn’t broken, it’s just wicked hard.” The Washington Post, July 21,
2017, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2017/07/21/nutrition-science-isnt-bro-
ken-its-just-wicked-hard/
6 Lockyer, Stacey. “Where are consumers getting their nutrition information from?” British Nutrition
Foundation. June 15, 2017. https://www.nutrition.org.uk/bnf-blogs/consumerinfo.html?__cf_chl_jschl_
tk__=39f141f40f42dbbc3c5c2d964f9721da1b0544c2-1581476780-0-AdkunbG_uf6jkfVSEygCGyqOjSRkjQvr-
5CR3RpVWJnAFyoTltstsnzdA0K7XxNeCqwhousOYE6MATsN-rNRiGmAiNLh9jQrTlh9MfgLH_MHck8RFvElWUI-
IAePyTgGop_kMFRsDXzbWhJJcKywrzy1GyTJ5EsTMLyrpjKnZsvYlC8qziYvybYMb04iUzBvL37UooL2NAifEj7m-
RxL7GwXmNeQszwb2F0FTTWYw7G0CrjgaRv8_Cogq2bk-pNquyQK5YPKcmAQqyFTosMOIMMOe77q51o1X-
5wGEVTXj4NHPN3XGWwHI4NCCFYNstcHEG04r0oC4AHgMMisHubw_B1AayFosO-fCk4TeVm7RCktzIzMPI-
A3xyEvLDL6MFo-r9jhw
7 Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Diet in the News – What to Believe? (website). Accessed
November 18, 2019. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/media/
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