Welcome back to our regular feature where we sift through the neverending river of new, health-related papers, and pick a few to summarize in a practical, simple, and not anxiety-inducing way.
Our main questions on each paper:
- In simple language, what does it say?
- Does it have good evidence?
- Should what it says matter to normal people?
- What simple thing, if anything, could a normal person do to take advantage of this finding?
Okay, away we go. And, as always, we rate each paper for practicality and level of interest, but we are mostly focused on finding ways to simplify findings. And more than anything else, we want to avoid over-optimization, so if a paper is telling you down to the minute how much sunlight to get at dawn, or that you should only drink coffee during eclipses, we are outta there.
This edition's articles and papers:
- Associations between occupational physical activity and left ventricular structure and function over 25 years in CARDIA | European Journal of Preventive Cardiology | Oxford Academic https://academic.oup.com/eurjpc/article-abstract/31/4/425/7394910?login=false
- Incidence of Total Knee Arthroplasty After Arthroscopic Surgery for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial | Orthopedics | JAMA Network Open | JAMA Network https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/article-abstract/2817814
- The booming business of eternal youth https://www.axios.com/2024/05/19/wellness-longevity-industry-equinox-membership
- Skipping Coffee is the Latest Humblebrag - WSJ https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/quitting-coffee-caffeine-free-productivity-799615c8
- Body Mass Index and Non-invasive Cardiovascular Parameters | medRxiv https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.05.17.24307560v1
- Exercise Training and Fasting: Current Insights - PMC https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6983467/
Now, here are our takes on the articles and papers:
Paper: The Physical Activity Paradox
Practicality (3/5): 🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️
Interest (4/5): 🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️
Summary
The paper explores how different levels of physical activity at work vs leisure impact the heart's structure and function over a long period. It touches on the so-called activity paradox, how similar activities can have different health impacts depending on whether they are done at work in leisure time.
What is the paper's main claim?
- The type and amount of physical activity you do at work can negatively affect how well your heart works and its physical condition over many years.
Are the methods and/or data it uses appropriate and convincing?
- The study examines data over 25 years, which gives a good long-term perspective but only focuses on young adults initially.
- The sample size and statistical power appear adequate; however, effect sizes need more clarity to gauge practical significance fully.
What do we know now that we didn't know before, if anything?
- The study suggests a clearer link between work-related physical activity and heart health over many years.
What simple and practical thing could a normal person do knowing this?
- Considering the type and intensity of physical activity at work are important for long-term heart health.
- Where you are active, and in what ways, matters immensely.
Paper: Knee Surgery and Arthritis
Practicality (3/5): 🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️
Interest (4/5): 🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️
Summary
Adding arthroscopic surgery to standard care for knee arthritis does not delay the need for a total knee replacement. Both the surgery and standard care groups had similar outcomes over a long follow-up period.
What is the paper's main claim?
- Arthroscopic surgery does not significantly change the long-term likelihood of needing a total knee replacement (TKA) compared to non-surgical management.
- Adding the risk of infection from such surgeries, it makes arthroscopy and even less viable therapy
Are the methods and/or data it uses appropriate and convincing?
- Sample of 178 patients, followed for a median of nearly 14 years, found no statistically significant difference in the need for TKA.
- Though rigorous, the analysis might be underpowered to detect smaller differences due to the moderate-sized sample.
What do we know now that we didn't know before, if anything?
- This study adds to the evidence showing that arthroscopic surgery for knee arthritis does not provide a long-term benefit in delaying or hastening TKA.
What simple and practical thing could a normal person do knowing this?
- Be very uneasy about recommendations for arthroscopic surgery if you have knee arthritis and are trying to avoid a knee replacement.
Paper: Wellness Industry Trends
Practicality (4/5): 🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️
Interest (4/5): 🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️
Summary
Consumers, particularly the wealthy, are increasingly investing in the booming wellness and longevity market. High-end services like personalized training plans and luxury spa treatments are becoming more prevalent, though they come at steep prices. The evidence for many of these treatments and products is weak, however.
What is the paper's main claim?
- Wealthy consumers are spending heavily on wellness and longevity products.
- There is a significant disparity in wellness accessibility based on income.
Are the methods and/or data it uses appropriate and convincing?
- The data on consumer spending is drawn from credible sources like McKinsey and Bloomberg.
What do we know now that we didn't know before, if anything?
- The extent to which luxury wellness services are tailored to rich individuals.
- The growing normalization of high-cost wellness practices.
What simple and practical thing could a normal person do knowing this?
- Focus on cost-effective wellness practices like regular exercise and balanced diets instead of high-cost luxury services.
- Always ask for peer-reviewed data, and be suspicious of expensive claims with poor evidence.
Paper: Quitting Coffee for Productivity
Practicality (5/5): 🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️
Interest (5/5): 🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️
Summary
A growing number of public figures are ditching coffee, claiming it improves their productivity and well-being. Instead of relying on caffeine, they opt for alternative beverages and lifestyle changes. This shift in habits highlights a broader trend towards wellness and self-care, even if the evidence is weak.
What is the paper's main claim?
- Famous individuals claim they are more productive without coffee.
- They use alternatives like tea, smoothies, and other wellness practices to maintain energy levels.
Are the methods and/or data it uses appropriate and convincing?
- No statistical data or rigorous scientific method provided; largely anecdotal evidence.
- The effects mentioned are subjective and personal, lacking general applicability.
What do we know now that we didn't know before, if anything?
- The trend of public figures avoiding coffee is becoming more prevalent and noisy.
What simple and practical thing could a normal person do knowing this?
- There is no reason to stop drinking coffee. It has no strong health benefits, but isn't dangerous either.
Paper: BMI and Heart Health
Practicality (4/5): 🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️
Interest (3/5): 🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️
Summary
This study examines how body weight affects heart health using simpler, non-invasive tests. It finds that a higher BMI is linked to poorer results in these heart tests.
What is the paper's main claim?
- Increased BMI is connected to worse cardiovascular health.
- Overweight and obesity significantly raise the risk of poor heart function.
Are the methods and/or data it uses appropriate and convincing?
- Study involved only 71 participants, which is a small sample size.
- The effect sizes (odds ratios) range from 23% to 704%, suggesting strong associations but needing cautious interpretation due to possible statistical variability.
What do we know now that we didn't know before, if anything?
- Reinforces the relationship between BMI and cardiovascular health.
- Reminder that BMI is a useful measure if you aren't a bodybuilder, and you likely aren't.
What simple and practical thing could a normal person do knowing this?
- Aim to maintain a healthy weight to support better heart health.
- Stop babbling how BMI doesn't apply to you. It does.
Paper: Fasting and Exercise Impact
Practicality (3/5): 🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️
Interest (4/5): 🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️
Summary
This paper explores how exercising while fasting affects metabolism, body composition, and athletic performance. It finds mixed results, with some evidence suggesting improved fat burn and weight loss, but inconsistent impacts on athletic performance.
What is the paper's main claim?
- Fasting's effects on physical performance are mixed and dependent on exercise intensity, fasting duration, and individual fitness levels.
Are the methods and/or data it uses appropriate and convincing?
- The paper reviews several studies, some with small sample sizes and varying methodologies, making it hard to draw definitive conclusions.
- Effect sizes on fat metabolism are notable but the impact on athletic performance is inconclusive, potentially confounded by individual variations and fasting protocols.
What do we know now that we didn’t know before, if anything?
- There are many uncertainties about fasting's broader impacts on different kinds of exercise performance, but it is no panacea.
What simple and practical thing could a normal person do knowing this?
- While fasting is likely fine with low-intensity exercise, it has a significant negative impact on high-intensity workouts.
Back next week with thoughtful and simplifying takes on papers getting attention. And if you see anything you want us to look at, let us know.
