Why Short-Term Diet Trials Can’t Solve Chronic Disease
by Originally published in STAT News on April 22
Imagine a clinical trial involving sedentary, overweight adults. One group continues their inactive lifestyle, while the other begins an intensive regimen of daily running, calisthenics, and sports. After just a week or two, participants in the exercise group would likely feel sore, fatigued, and possibly even show a temporary drop in performance. No one would seriously conclude from this short-term snapshot that exercise is harmful. It’s clear we’d need a longer trial to understand the benefits of physical activity.