31 Mar 11
The post that was quoted here has been removedOr maybe fat people are unhappy and unhappy people turn to God.
More likely, there are many more complex reasons for the correlation. For example, I am sure both attributes correlate with wealth, race, urbanization, political affiliation, education, and culture.
31 Mar 11
Originally posted by PalynkaIts funny how, in the articles it says:
Correlation not causality.
lead investigator from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Matthew Feinstein said: "We don't know why frequent religious participation is associated with development of obesity.
Yet the report says in the title:
Religion makes people obese, claims study
Clearly the reporter didn't read his own article, didn't understand it, or is a liar.
31 Mar 11
Originally posted by twhiteheadand after they turn to god they cease being unhappy so they should not be obese anymore?
Or maybe fat people are unhappy and unhappy people turn to God.
More likely, there are many more complex reasons for the correlation. For example, I am sure both attributes correlate with wealth, race, urbanization, political affiliation, education, and culture.
like palinka said, it's correlation not causality.
31 Mar 11
Originally posted by ZahlanziNo, why would that happen?
and after they turn to god they cease being unhappy so they should not be obese anymore?
like palinka said, it's correlation not causality.
And I essentially agreed with him. I was simply pointing out that if one is going to claim causality, once can do it both ways. ie why claim God makes you fat not Fat brings you to God? A correlation, even a causal one, does not in itself tell you which one causes the other.
Generally any correlation may be:
1. statistically insignificant.
2. a causal relationship one way or both ways.
3. a causal relationship with third parties.
4. a combination of all of the above.
31 Mar 11
Originally posted by Palynka"Scientific reporting" is an oxymoron. You should rather say "reporting on science".
In other words, the daily bread and butter in scientific reporting...
I also should not have said he was a liar, but rather that he was "stretching the truth in the interests of an eye catching headline".