Epidemiology Faces Its Limits: The search for subtle links between diet, lifestyle, or environmental factors and disease is an unending source of fear—but often yields little certainty

Taubes, Gary

doi:10.1126/science.7618077

Cited by 841Historical and modern epidemiology studiesStatistical Methods in EpidemiologyPhilosophy and History of Science

Epidemiology Faces Its Limits: The search for subtle links between diet, lifestyle, or environmental factors and disease is an unending source of fear—but often yields little certainty

Taubes, Gary·1995·Science

DOI 10.1126/science.7618077

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Associations reported in epidemiological studies can be produced by other forms of bias.
“or by other forms of bias.”
From Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology using Mendelian Randomisation (STROBE-MR): explanation and elaboration. (2021) · cites this paper as [3]
Associations reported in epidemiological studies are often not reliable estimates of causal effects.
“However, such associations reported in epidemiological studies are often not reliable estimates of causal effects”
From Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology using Mendelian Randomisation (STROBE-MR): explanation and elaboration. (2021) · cites this paper as [3]
Associations reported in epidemiological studies can be produced by confounding.
“and can be produced by confounding (that is, by another factor that affects both the outcome and exposure)1 2 3”
From Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology using Mendelian Randomisation (STROBE-MR): explanation and elaboration. (2021) · cites this paper as [3]

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Authors: Taubes, G.
Corresponding author: Taubes, Gary
Venue: Science
Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Published: 1995-07-14
Volume: 269
Issue: 5221
Pages: 164-169
ISSN: 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
1095-9203
DOI: 10.1126/science.7618077
OpenAlex: W2006825115
Cited by: 841
References: 1
Citations by year: 2026: 3 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 26 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 27 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 37 · 2012: 31
FWCI: 244.25
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Science (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
DigitalGeorgetown (Georgetown University Library) (submittedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Historical and modern epidemiology studies
Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Statistical Methods in Epidemiology
Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Philosophy and History of Science
Keywords: epidemiology, causal inference, observational studies, confounding
MeSH terms: Epidemiologic Methods, Epidemiology, Humans, Mass Media, Publishing, Risk Factors, Cohort Studies, Bias, Causality, Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic, Case-Control Studies

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Epidemiology Faces Its Limits: The search for subtle links between diet, lifestyle, or environmental factors and disease is an unending source of fear—but often yields little certainty

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