‘In mice’ missing from headline touting black tea weight loss benefits

Does the news release adequately discuss the costs of the intervention?

Not Satisfactory

There is no discussion of the costs of black, decaffeinated tea.

While one might argue that the cost of tea is relatively well known, remember that this was an animal study. We don’t know how much a person would have to drink in order to achieve the equivalent dosage for humans. The release could have clarified this point.

Does the news release adequately quantify the benefits of the treatment/test/product/procedure?

Not Satisfactory

It’s disappointing that we are left without any idea of the magnitude of the findings. We are told merely that “the weights of the mice that were given green or black tea extracts dropped to the same levels as those of the mice that received the low-fat diet throughout the study.”

Does the news release adequately explain/quantify the harms of the intervention?

Not Satisfactory

No potential harms of consuming black tea were mentioned. Black tea contains caffeine, which can cause a range of adverse effects in high doses.

Of course, the manuscript that’s the basis of the release specifies that the study tested decaffeinated black tea. However, the release doesn’t mention this. Clarifying this point would have been helpful.

Does the news release seem to grasp the quality of the evidence?

Not Satisfactory

Although we do get some detail on the quality of the study and the composition of the different comparator groups, the release never explains the limitations of animal research. Instead of emphasizing the long road to proving an equivalent effect in humans, the release repeatedly suggests the possibility of human application right now.

Does the news release compare the new approach with existing alternatives?

Not Satisfactory

The study was, in a sense, a comparison of alternatives but there were no mentions of any alternatives to reduce weight in mice, other than the two teas in question.

We think the release could have talked briefly about calorie balance as the most accepted way to avoid weight gain, and calorie restriction to encourage weight loss.

Does the news release include unjustifiable, sensational language, including in the quotes of researchers?

Not Satisfactory

It’s never justifiable to imply a human effect based entirely on mouse research. Moreover, the release further suggests that it’s already been proven that green tea induces weight loss — something that certainly has not been conclusively established.