This article is an example of why I worry about information consumed from the internet.
First, there’s the headline: “15-year UC study finds alcohol more effective than exercise for long life.” Click-worthy, right? Whether you’re inclined to believe the findings or not, at the very least you want to know more.
The article says that according to the study:
Those seniors who drank one or two glasses of wine or beer each day were 18 percent less likely to die prematurely.
Comparatively, those who exercised between 15 to 45 minutes a day were similarly less predisposed to die prematurely, but only 11 percent less less likely.
Sounds fairly conclusive, right? Concrete numbers from a study on aging. But wait! If you weren’t reading closely, you would have missed this nugget from the article:
At a conference in Austin over the weekend, [one of the lead researchers of the study] said she has “no explanation” for her finding, but she “firmly believe(s) that modest drinking improves longevity.”
In other words: while there seems to be a relationship between drinking some alcohol and living longer, we don’t know the details. There’s not enough information to conclude that modest drinking improves longevity. Other than the lead researcher’s opinion, that is.
Critical thinking skills are more important than ever when consuming the news these days. Accepting any information at face value is risky.