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How a Scientist Fooled Millions With Bizarre Chocolate Diet Claims

Posted by timothy on from the tongue-in-cheek-sandwich-diet-works-too dept.

__roo writes: Did you know chocolate helps you lose weight? You can read all about this great news for chocoholics in the Daily Star, Daily Express, Irish Examiner, and TV shows in Texas and Australia, and even the front page of Bild, Europe's largest daily newspaper. The problem is that it's not true. A researcher who previously worked with Science to do a sting operation on fee-charging open access journals ran a real—but obviously flawed—study rigged to generate false positives, paid €600 to get it published in a fee-charging open access journal, set up a website for a fake institute, and issued press releases to feed the ever-hungry pool of nutrition journalists. The doctor who ran the trial had the idea to use chocolate, because it's a favorite of the "whole food" fanatics. "Bitter chocolate tastes bad, therefore it must be good for you. It's like a religion."

3 of 260 comments (clear)

  1. Heh. by Aaron_Pike · · Score: 4, Funny

    Schadenfreude is the best freude.

  2. Re:This was done by a journalist, not a scientist! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny


    Scientist: Lawful Neutral
    HD d4
      BaB Fort Ref Will Special 0 1st
    1st +0 +0 +0 +2 "Summon Assistant, Scribe Scroll" 3 1
    Incurs casting penaly when not wearing white robe
    If a Scientist fails its alignment check, it loses all special abilities.

  3. best submission contest by steak · · Score: 3, Funny

    _roo wins best pun category with "and issued press releases to feed the ever-hungry pool of nutrition journalists."

    --
    lose != loose