title: Use of causal language in observational studies of obesity and nutrition.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the inappropriate use of causal language in studies on obesity and nutrition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Titles and abstracts of 525 peer-reviewed papers in the 4 leading journals in the fields of obesity and nutrition were scrutinized for language implying causality in observational studies published in 2006.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Such misleading language appeared in 161 papers (31%) independent of funding source. Remarkably 49% of studies lacking statistically significant primary outcomes used misleading language compared to 29% of those with p values ≤0.05 (chi square p < 0.001). Exculpatory language was present in the body of the text in 19%; of the 161 studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that editors and reviewers evaluate submissions for misleading reporting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA. scofield@uab.edu
authors.forename: Stacey S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Cofield
authors.forename: Rachel V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Corona
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Allison
mesh_terms: D015982:Bias; D015706:Bibliometrics; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010506:Periodicals as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012109:Research Support as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D009626:Terminology as Topic