Question

core issue: nutrition
in one example of an observational study, in 2012, researchers looked for correlations between the number of sugared or artificially sweetened beverages consumed and hypertension (high blood pressure).
consuming sweetened beverages and
the risk of developing hypertension
sugar sweetened beverages
artificially sweetened beverages
< 1 beverage/month

30 beverages/month

relative risk of developing hypertension
source: l cohen et al., j gen intern med, v27(9):1127 - 34 (2012).
which statements are supported by the data?
supported by the data
not supported by the data
people who drink sweetened beverages once a week will have a lower risk of developing hypertension than those who drink sweetened beverages once a day.
people who consumed more than one sweetened beverage per day had an increased risk of developing hypertension.
the sweeteners in the beverages cause an increase in risk for hypertension.
people who drink sweetened beverages at least once a day will develop hypertension sometime in their lives.
reset help

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each statement against the bar graph (relative risk of developing hypertension for different sweetened beverage consumption levels: <1 beverage/month, >30 beverages/month, for sugar - sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages):

Statement 1: "People who drink sweetened beverages once a week will have a lower risk of developing hypertension than those who drink sweetened beverages once a day."

• The graph shows consumption levels as <1 beverage/month and >30 beverages/month (not once a week or once a day). So, we don't have data for "once a week" vs "once a day" consumption. Thus, this statement is Not supported by the data.

Statement 2: "People who consumed more than one sweetened beverage per day had an increased risk of developing hypertension."

• The " > 30 beverages/month" category can be considered as "more than one per day" (since 30 beverages in a month is about 1 per day). For both sugar - sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages, the relative risk for >30 beverages/month (red bars) is higher than for <1 beverage/month (blue bars). So, this statement is Supported by the data.

Statement 3: "The sweeteners in the beverages cause an increase in risk for hypertension."

• The study is observational (shows correlation), not experimental. Correlation does not imply causation. So, we can't conclude that sweeteners "cause" the increased risk. Thus, this statement is Not supported by the data.

Statement 4: "People who drink sweetened beverages at least once a day will develop hypertension sometime in their lives."

• The graph shows relative risk (likelihood), not a guarantee. Even with an increased relative risk, it doesn't mean everyone in that group will develop hypertension. Thus, this statement is Not supported by the data.

Final Categorization:

• Supported by the data: "People who consumed more than one sweetened beverage per day had an increased risk of developing hypertension."
• Not supported by the data: "People who drink sweetened beverages once a week will have a lower risk of developing hypertension than those who drink sweetened beverages once a day", "The sweeteners in the beverages cause an increase in risk for hypertension", "People who drink sweetened beverages at least once a day will develop hypertension sometime in their lives."

(If we are to fill the boxes as per the image layout:

• "People who drink sweetened beverages once a week will have a lower risk of developing hypertension than those who drink sweetened beverages once a day" → Not supported by the data
• "People who consumed more than one sweetened beverage per day had an increased risk of developing hypertension" → Supported by the data
• "The sweeteners in the beverages cause an increase in risk for hypertension" → Not supported by the data
• "People who drink sweetened beverages at least once a day will develop hypertension sometime in their lives" → Not supported by the data)

Answer:

To solve this, we analyze each statement against the bar graph (relative risk of developing hypertension for different sweetened beverage consumption levels: <1 beverage/month, >30 beverages/month, for sugar - sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages):

Statement 1: "People who drink sweetened beverages once a week will have a lower risk of developing hypertension than those who drink sweetened beverages once a day."

• The graph shows consumption levels as <1 beverage/month and >30 beverages/month (not once a week or once a day). So, we don't have data for "once a week" vs "once a day" consumption. Thus, this statement is Not supported by the data.

Statement 2: "People who consumed more than one sweetened beverage per day had an increased risk of developing hypertension."

• The " > 30 beverages/month" category can be considered as "more than one per day" (since 30 beverages in a month is about 1 per day). For both sugar - sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages, the relative risk for >30 beverages/month (red bars) is higher than for <1 beverage/month (blue bars). So, this statement is Supported by the data.

Statement 3: "The sweeteners in the beverages cause an increase in risk for hypertension."

• The study is observational (shows correlation), not experimental. Correlation does not imply causation. So, we can't conclude that sweeteners "cause" the increased risk. Thus, this statement is Not supported by the data.

Statement 4: "People who drink sweetened beverages at least once a day will develop hypertension sometime in their lives."

• The graph shows relative risk (likelihood), not a guarantee. Even with an increased relative risk, it doesn't mean everyone in that group will develop hypertension. Thus, this statement is Not supported by the data.

Final Categorization:

• Supported by the data: "People who consumed more than one sweetened beverage per day had an increased risk of developing hypertension."
• Not supported by the data: "People who drink sweetened beverages once a week will have a lower risk of developing hypertension than those who drink sweetened beverages once a day", "The sweeteners in the beverages cause an increase in risk for hypertension", "People who drink sweetened beverages at least once a day will develop hypertension sometime in their lives."

(If we are to fill the boxes as per the image layout:

• "People who drink sweetened beverages once a week will have a lower risk of developing hypertension than those who drink sweetened beverages once a day" → Not supported by the data
• "People who consumed more than one sweetened beverage per day had an increased risk of developing hypertension" → Supported by the data
• "The sweeteners in the beverages cause an increase in risk for hypertension" → Not supported by the data
• "People who drink sweetened beverages at least once a day will develop hypertension sometime in their lives" → Not supported by the data)