Darya Sinusoid, Author at Shortform Books

Healthy-User Bias in Medical Research

What is healthy-user bias? How can we isolate whether an intervention actually accounts for differences between individuals? Healthy-user bias occurs in studies that aim to assess the effect of a certain treatment or intervention. Because the people who choose to partake in such studies tend to be significantly different from their peers, it’s difficult to assess the degree to which the intervention (and not the participants’ characteristics) accounts for the findings. Keep reading to learn about healthy-user bias and how it affects research findings.

Best Time Management Books, Blogs, & Podcasts

Do you often feel like there isn’t enough time in the day? Do you feel like you don’t have control of your time? Many people feel as though there is never enough time—not enough time for work, not enough time for family, not enough time for ourselves. This sentiment is understandable: Modern life is busy, and with so many things vying for our time and attention, it’s hard to be on top of everything. But if your time management is on point, being on top of everything that’s important is not that difficult. In this article, we’ve rounded up a

Exercise and the Brain: Cognitive Benefits of Movement

How does exercise benefit the brain? Can regular exercise ward off age-related cognitive decline? Regular exercise is the single most important thing to do for your brain’s health. Not only does exercise promote clarity of thinking, but it can also help slow down the rate of cognitive decline as you age. Here’s a look at exercise and the brain.

The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story—Book Overview

What is Nikole Hannah-Jones’s The 1619 Project about? What role did slavery play in American history? The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story is an anthology of essays edited by Nikole Hannah-Jones and co-created with the New York Times that seeks to reframe American history with the institution of slavery at its core. The essays also explore how the institution of slavery has impacted our economy, laws, society, and the livelihoods of Black Americans. Below is a brief overview of The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story.

Set Weight: Why Dieting Doesn’t Work

What exactly is the “set weight”? What role does your set weight play in fat gain? What happens when you fall below your set weight? Your set weight is the default weight your body seeks to maintain—it’s a homeostatic mechanism. Once you fall beneath that set weight, your body will compel you to eat and regain any weight you’ve lost. That’s why many people see excess weight come back once they get off a diet. Here’s how your body seeks to sustain your set weight, preventing you from keeping the lost weight off.

The Difference Between Correlation & Causation

What’s the difference between correlation and causation? What are the consequences of mistaking correlation for causation? Just because two variables are correlated doesn’t mean one is causing the other. Correlation quantifies a relationship between two variables, but it doesn’t explain that relationship. This is a crucial distinction to keep in mind, as equating correlation and causation can lead to misinformed decisions. Here’s why correlation does not imply causation.

Survivorship Bias in Statistics Skews Results

What is survivorship bias in statistics? How does survivorship bias skew our interpretation of the research findings? Any time a portion of a study sample is able to “leave” the study, we should be wary of survivorship bias. Survivorship bias occurs when we draw conclusions based on the “survivors” of a certain treatment or intervention. Keep reading to learn about survivorship bias and how it affects research findings.

Brain Diet: What to Eat for a Healthy Brain

What’s the best diet for the brain? What foods should you eat to keep your brain healthy and your mind sharp? What foods should you avoid? A healthy diet is a vital part of brain health. While there’s no general consensus on the best brain diet, there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that you should eat certain foods regularly and avoid other foods as much as possible. Learn which foods are good for your brain and which ones can be potentially harmful.

The Mistreatment of Black People in Healthcare

How are Black people mistreated in the healthcare industry? How does racism manifest in healthcare? The American healthcare industry fails to provide adequate care and treatment to Blacks. Nikole Hannah-Jones, the author of The 1619 Project, links mistreatment of Black people in healthcare to medical practitioners’ racist beliefs that cause them to underestimate Black illness and not provide necessary treatments. Here’s how the effects of slavery echo across the American healthcare industry.

How Meal Timing Affects Your Insulin Levels

How does meal timing affect your insulin? What happens in your body when you eat too frequently? When you eat every few hours (including snacking), your insulin remains elevated. When insulin levels are both high and constant, your body’s cells become insulin resistant. That kicks off the self-perpetuating loop of chronically high insulin that promotes weight gain. Here’s how meal timing affects your insulin.