This is a brief, balanced broadcast about a heavily marketed diet drug and the idiosyncratic enthusiasm of its users, who either do not understand the drug’s uncomfortable side effects or, in their zeal to lose weight, are willing to sacrifice comfort for a slimmer waistline. The story covers the basics reasonably well, and includes strong sources representing a variety of views. Viewers will come away better informed about the drug’s common side effect, “extreme” gastrointestinal distress. But they won’t know enough about the size of the drug’s potential benefits to weigh the trade-off. According to the drug’s manufacturer, Alli can increase by 50% the amount of weight a person might lose through dietary changes and exercise alone. How many pounds is that? If the history of weight loss studies is any indication, the drug might simply nibble at the margins.
The story implies that the drug may be expensive, but doesn’t actually tell the viewer what it costs.
According to the drug’s manufacturer, Alli can increase by 50% the amount of weight a person might lose through the combination of a good diet and exercise. How many pounds is that? The history of weight loss studies suggests it might not be much. The number is key, since gastrointestinal distress may be worth the trouble for a heap of pounds, but not if the drug simply nibbles at the margins.
The story mentions arguably the most notable and inconvenient side effect of the diet drug Alli—gastrointestinal distress—and gives it the prominence it warrants.
The broadcast’s summary of the evidence is a paraphrase of a manufacturing claim: “The manufacturer says Alli can help people who are already dieting and exercising lose up to fifty percent more weight if taken in combination with a proper diet.” What does the evidence say, and what form does the evidence take? We don’t know.
This story cites CDC statistics stating that two-thirds of Americans are overweight. Despite the source, the broadcast avoids discussing “overweight” as an epidemic or disease.
The story uses many sources representing a variety of views.
The new medication is not compared or contrasted in any detail to existing methods for weight loss, including diet, exercise, surgery, or other medications.
The broadcast explains that the new diet drug Alli is available over the counter.
The broadcast leads with the drug’s novelty. It is the first weight loss drug sold over-the-counter, and people are snatching it off drugstore shelves “today.”
No obvious use of text from a press release.
Systematic, Criteria-Driven
Monday at #ADA2021, an infectious disease epidemiologist, a journalist, and a researcher shared perspectives on communication of risk in the era of COVID-19: http://ow.ly/ROfR30rMeE7 @AstleyCM @garyschwitzer @berthahidalgo @ADA_DiabetesPro
Shoutouts to @susan_bewley @drkevinknopf @MichaelBaum11 in this call for more than fawning coverage from press releases for these kinds of stories.
Also, linked history inside goes back 5 years just on Grail apparently trying to become Holy Grail. https://twitter.com/garyschwitzer/status/1408849696416841731
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