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Can you spot the problem with these headlines? (Level 1) - Jeff Leek and Lucy McGowan

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TEDEd Animation

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In medicine, there’s often a disconnect between news headlines and the scientific research they cover. While headlines are designed to catch attention, many studies produce meaningful results when they focus on a narrow, specific question. So how can you figure out what’s a genuine health concern and what’s less conclusive? Jeff Leek and Lucy McGowan explain how to read past the headline.

The Healthium study found that participants taking Healthium had a higher level of healthy cholesterol than those taking a placebo. Scientists know that people with naturally high cholesterol levels have lower rates of heart disease. What is the problem with stating that Healthium reduces the risk of heart disease?

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Meet The Creators

  • Educator Lucy McGowan, Jeff Leek
  • Director Michael Kalopaidis
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Animator Maria Savva
  • Illustrator Dimitra Dakaki
  • Sound Designer Andreas Trachonitis
  • Producer Zedem Media
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Associate Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Associate Editorial Producer Elizabeth Cox
  • Script Editor Eleanor Nelsen
  • Fact-Checker Brian Gutierrez

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