The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science

I was contacted in 2023 by a journalist writing for a major news outlet. In her email—which was written with the terseness that only journalists and famous people seem to get away with—she asked me to comment on a new study that had made a “major breakthrough” in the best time of day to exercise to elicit optimal health. It’s a subject that resurfaces periodically whenever the well of fashionable supplements or celebrity fitness trends runs dry, which it rarely does. I obliged and offered the kind of dispassionate and understated interpretation that scientists love and journalists hate. She didn’t print my response; she didn’t even reply to say thanks. I’ll tell you what I told her. The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science BOOK: https://www.nbtiller.com Skeptical Inquirer magazine: https://www.skepticalinquirer.org Original article & references: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/the-best-time-of-day-to-exercise-another-media-fail/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“If you don’t tell your own story, someone else will tell it for you, and you probably won’t like how they do it.” —Shirley Malcolm, American Association for the Advancement of Science. We know that complex life likely evolved from single-celled organisms. As soon as microbes emerged from the primordial soup, they were shaped by natural selection, ensuring survival of the fittest. Eventually, though not inevitably, evolution would lead to great complexity. After microbes came the Cambrian explosion—a rapid diversification of complex life. The seas became populated with soft-bodied fish, and after a few billion years, the vertebrates emerged. Bony fish eventually found the sand from the sea. Through intermediate forms, fins produced limbs. Hominids eventually came to rule the Earth with color vision, grasping hands, and brains able to fashion tools such as typewriters and laptops we could use to oversimplify complex scientific phenomena. The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science BOOK: https://www.nbtiller.com Skeptical Inquirer magazine: https://www.skepticalinquirer.org Original article & references: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/from-the-lab-to-the-layperson-a-pioneering-initiative-to-improve-the-translation-of-science/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David had always found ice bathing after exercise to be intuitive. After all, people had been putting ice on their injuries for decades, and the RICE principle—rest, ice, compression, and elevation—had been a mainstay in the management of injuries since he’d learned it at school (despite questionable supporting evidence for efficacy). He’d also seen athletes on social media lowering their lean, muscular bodies into tubs of cold water and claiming miraculous benefits. If it was good enough for them, it was good enough for him. Soon he’d be sharing his own #icebath stories on social media. The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science BOOK: https://www.nbtiller.com Skeptical Inquirer magazine: https://www.skepticalinquirer.org Original article & references: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/why-are-we-still-ice-bathing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most readers won’t be familiar with Clark Stanley. And yet, to those who lived in the Old West, he was a household name. In the aging half of the nineteenth century, Stanley’s theater company was one of several that toured rural towns selling magical health elixirs. For the townsfolk, seeing a Clark Stanley convoy kicking up dust on the horizon would have been an exhilarating sight. After unloading their carts and setting up their makeshift stage, Stanley and his crew treated the crowd to a thrilling show. Acrobats flipped, magicians tricked, and mustachioed musclemen bent bars and rods. Their only job was to whip the audience into a frenzy for the main event: the medicine man. And Clark Stanley was the most famous and revered of them all. The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science BOOK: https://www.nbtiller.com Skeptical Inquirer magazine: https://www.skepticalinquirer.org Original article & references: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/telling-true-stories-what-can-the-anti-science-community-teach-us-about-sci-comm/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christmas is a time for giving. For the snake oil salesmen of the world, however, it’s a time for taking. The holiday sees capitalism, the pressures of gift-giving, and dietary excesses coalesce, creating the perfect storm for consumer exploitation. The commercial world swells with baseless claims and pseudoscience. After a year covering political ideologies in professional sports, the health consequences of smartphone addiction, and my skepticism of anti-obesity drugs, I opted for a lighthearted transition into 2024. In this month’s column, your resident pseudoscience Grinch brings you some festive fitness fads to look out for this holiday. And wouldn’t you know it, there are five of them. The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science BOOK: https://www.nbtiller.com Skeptical Inquirer magazine: https://www.skepticalinquirer.org Original article & references: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/festive-fitness-fads-to-know-about-this-holiday/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I wasn’t expecting the New York Jets vs. the New York Giants game last month to trigger a traumatic flashback. A commercial for Nugenix’s “total testosterone-boosting formula” appeared during half-time, sending me spiraling through space-time to April 2022. It was the day Tucker Carlson’s documentary The End of Men received its inaugural trailer. The Fox Nation special, written and starring the network’s former news host, is a homoerotic jaunt through an alternative reality where low testosterone is the cause of America’s imminent decline and testicle tanning with infrared light is the solution. The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science BOOK: https://www.nbtiller.com Skeptical Inquirer magazine: https://www.skepticalinquirer.org Original article & references: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/testosterone-supplements-summoning-the-specter-of-tucker-carlson/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The world watched in awe as Michael Phelps—the most decorated Olympian in history—added another five gold medals to his record-breaking tally at the Rio Games in 2016. This he did with conspicuous purple bruises across his back and shoulders, caused by cupping therapy. Today, it’s so common for an elite athlete to fraternize with pseudoscience, it gets lost in the small print of the back page news. But Phelps is no ordinary athlete. He’s won more gold medals than anyone in history. He has over five million followers on social media. His views on training and recovery hold tremendous sway, and his unwitting endorsement of cupping thrust the ancient Chinese therapy into the modern spotlight. The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science BOOK: https://www.nbtiller.com Skeptical Inquirer magazine: https://www.skepticalinquirer.org Original article & references: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/phelps-dives-deeper-into-the-pseudoscience-of-cupping/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Gila Monster is North America’s only venomous Lizard. The reptile can grow to twenty-two inches and has a vicious bite that’s as toxic as that of the western diamondback rattlesnake. While studying the lizard’s venom in the 1990s, Dr. John Eng—an endocrinologist at the Veterans Administration Center in New York—discovered a compound with a similar molecular structure to a protein called GLP-1, which regulates blood glucose in humans. But while GLP-1 had a half-life of just a few minutes, the lizard protein, which Eng called Exendin-4, had a half-life of several hours. Seeing its potential to treat metabolic disease, Eng began experimenting with Exendin-4 and later licensed his discovery to Amylin Pharmaceuticals of San Diego. After a decade of research, Exenatide was approved by the FDA as the world’s first “GLP-1 receptor agonist.” It forever changed the management of Type 2 diabetes and may prove to be our most powerful weapon in the ongoing war on obesity. The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science BOOK: https://www.nbtiller.com Skeptical Inquirer magazine: https://www.skepticalinquirer.org Original article & references: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/my-healthy-but-waning-skepticism-of-weight-loss-drugs/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When it comes to Grand Slam titles, Novak Djokovic has eclipsed every other male tennis player in history. He’s the only man to be the reigning champion of all four majors simultaneously across three surfaces, and by securing his 23rd trophy at the French Open 2023, the Serbian national perhaps cemented his place as the greatest player of all time. Such prominence invites scrutiny, and in several competitions this past year, it was difficult to overlook a conspicuous device taped to Djokovic’s chest. The Italian manufacturer of TaoPatch claims their device uses nanotechnology to “convert natural body heat into microscopic beams of light to stimulate the nervous system.” They maintain that the device is supported by thousands of physicians and over 50 clinical studies, but of the eight studies cited on their website, only four were related to the device and only one was placebo-controlled. Djokovic has called TaoPatch the biggest secret of his career. Scientists have called it nonsense. For Djokovic, it’s just the tip of a pseudoscience iceberg which, due to his notoriety, is creating a ripple effect throughout the sporting world. The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science BOOKhttps://www.nbtiller.comSkeptical Inquirer magazinehttps://www.skepticalinquirer.orgOriginal article & references: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/novak-djokovic-and-the-pseudoscience-grand-slam/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The plot for the epic fantasy series Lord of The Rings centered on, well, a ring. Not just any ring, but a magic ring. The “one ring to rule them all” bestowed immense power on its owner: the power of invisibility, the power to dominate the wills of others, and power over the bearers of subservient rings. But in this month’s column, I discuss jewelry with such extraordinary properties, it’d make even Bilbo Baggins envious. These charms and trinkets can harness quantum energy fields, resonate with the body’s intrinsic frequencies, emit magnetic pulses, and surround the owner with protective and healing energies. From sports performance to health and healing, there are earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings for every desire. And, unlike “The One Ring” that was forged in the fires of Mount Doom, these knickknacks can be found at your local pharmacy. The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science BOOKhttps://www.nbtiller.comSkeptical Inquirer magazinehttps://www.skepticalinquirer.orgOriginal article & references: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/magic-jewelry-and-the-irony-of-ignorance/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How desperate to lose weight would you have to be before you’d let a surgeon slice a hole in your abdomen and remove three-quarters of your stomach? This is “sleeve gastrectomy,” a common bariatric surgery that reduces stomach size and decreases appetite by blunting the release of ghrelin—a hormone that stimulates hunger. More than 1.5 million Americans have elected for bariatric surgery in the last 10 years, having repeatedly tried and failed to lose weight via conventional means. All bariatric surgeries carry significant risk, including bleeding, infection, gastrointestinal leaks, and even death. They’re also expensive and met with varying degrees of success. Even so, the benefits are often deemed to outweigh the risks, and for years surgery has been the last bastion of hope for sections of an obese population that are otherwise hopeless. What’s more, the number of bariatric surgeries performed is rising year on year. Now, promising new drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, therapies for type II diabetes and obesity, respectively, are showing documented success in clinical trials. Lauded by some as “breakthrough weight loss treatments” that will reduce dependence on surgery, yet vilified by others for promoting drug dependency, Ozempic and Wegovy are now making the predictable transition from clinical therapy to commercial shortcut. The implications could be disastrous for population health. The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science BOOKhttps://www.nbtiller.comSkeptical Inquirer magazinehttps://www.skepticalinquirer.orgOriginal article & references: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/ozempic-and-wegovy-for-obesity-landmark-therapies-with-forgotten-flaws/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s hard work beating people up for a living. A professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter typically trains year-round, fusing fighting disciplines such as boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, and Brazilian Ju Jitsu with concurrent resistance and endurance training. They must carefully balance stress and recovery to bring improvements rather than injuries and infections, and then, during fight camp, they complete an intensive eight- to twelve-week training program that culminates in a grueling weight cut to shed 10 percent of their body weight (approximately fifteen pounds for a lightweight fighter). And that’s just to get ready for the contest. They must then enter the cage to trade punches, kicks, elbows, knees, throws, holds, and submissions with another professional fighter while an adoring crowd bays for blood. The two continue until someone gives up, loses on points, or loses their consciousness. Given the clear imperative to perform and recover, why is it that so many fighters use products and services that, by modern scientific standards, are so patently useless? The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science BOOKhttps://www.nbtiller.comSkeptical Inquirer magazinehttps://www.skepticalinquirer.orgOriginal article & references: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/inside-the-ufcs-pseudoscience-crisis/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I used to be obsessed with martial arts superstar Bruce Lee. I watched all his movies, read his books, and studied his moves (quite ineffectually). Aside from his martial arts skills and philosophies, it was Lee’s physique that distinguished him from other action heroes of the time. Standing five feet seven inches (172 cm) tall, his compact, muscular frame was perfectly suited to his explosive style of combat. And when Lee punched and kicked through his enemies with unmatched speed and dexterity, his every muscle and sinew leapt off the screen. It was quite a statement, therefore, when Lee was pictured in Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (played by Jason Scott Lee, no relation) using an electric stimulator to train his muscles. The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science bookhttps://www.nbtiller.comSkeptical Inquirer magazinehttps://www.skepticalinquirer.orgOriginal article & references: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/electric-muscle-stimulation-the-devil-is-in-the-detail Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The least-used app on my phone is “phone.” The diverse functionality of the smartphone—texting, talking, video streaming, gaming, social networking—has changed the way we work, play, and communicate. I still wonder if Steve Jobs, when he introduced the iPhone at the Macworld San Francisco Keynote Address in 2007, anticipated the influence Apple’s revolutionary creation would have on human behavior. He probably did. Just fifteen years after its release, numerous copycat devices have made the smartphone nearly ubiquitous. The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science bookhttps://www.nbtiller.comSkeptical Inquirer magazinehttps://www.skepticalinquirer.orgOriginal article & references: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/the-physical-toll-of-your-smartphone-addiction/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All doctrines have demons, some more literal than others. What I mean by this is that ideologies tend to endure because they’ve a common antagonist against whom proponents can rally. For example, the Abrahamic religions brandish the Devil; politicians demonize members and policies of the opposing party; athletes and supporters unite against an opposing sports team; homeopaths fuel fear of “big pharma”; and proponents of the keto diet denounce carbohydrates, or “big carb,” for their role in diabetes, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease. In the world of barefoot running, it’s the modern sneaker industry, condemned for supplying generations of runners with highly cushioned soles that have weakened their leg muscles, collapsed the arches of their feet, and predisposed them to high rates of injury. The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science bookhttps://www.nbtiller.comSkeptical Inquirer magazinehttps://www.skepticalinquirer.orgOriginal article & references:https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/barefoot-running-conspiracies-and-controversies/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Health and wellness scams have endured the ages by exploiting (1) scientific naiveté and (2) our innate desire for simple solutions to complex problems. The Mesopotamians made substantial contributions to science and technology. They were the first to use irrigation in agriculture, the first to forge tools from bronze and iron, and the first to use looms to weave cloth from wool. But despite these accomplishments, they were known to treat illnesses by offering amulets and incantations to the gods and evil spirits that they believed inflicted disease in retribution for the “sins of mankind.” The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science bookhttps://www.nbtiller.comSkeptical Inquirer magazinehttps://www.skepticalinquirer.orgOriginal article & references:https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/health-wellness-and-the-quick-fix-fallacy/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The media backlash was swift and severe. More severe, in fact, than if an Olympic athlete had tested positive for a banned substance. For years, Brian Johnson—a.k.a. The Liver King—has marketed his brand on the core values of primal living founded on his self-derived “Ancestral Tenets.” Primarily through viral social media coverage, Johnson purportedly made more than $100 million per year. But leaked emails recently revealed that his astounding physique wasn’t due to his diet of raw animal organs and powerful supplements, as he claimed, but instead his extensive use of anabolic steroids. The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science bookhttps://www.nbtiller.comSkeptical Inquirer magazinehttps://www.skepticalinquirer.orgOriginal article & references:https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/the-liver-king-lies-and-logical-fallacies/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In terms of medical knowledge, the ancient world was primitive by modern standards. It had no germ theory to prevent the spread of disease, no anesthetics to pacify patients before surgery, and no evidence-based medicine to counteract the belief that “humors”—blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm—influenced the body and its emotions. The ancients were also highly superstitious: Greeks and Romans would drink the blood of fallen gladiators, believing it to confer strength and vitality and that it was a cure for epilepsy. The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science bookhttps://www.nbtiller.comSkeptical Inquirer magazinehttps://www.skepticalinquirer.orgOriginal article & references:https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/the-backward-world-of-retro-walking/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Earlier this year, the world’s most successful male tennis player, Novak Djokovic, was deported from Australia—not for misconduct on the court or for doping, but for violating Australia’s border policy that mandated COVID-19 vaccinations.1 Djokovic is one of many professional athletes who have refused the vaccine, a list that includes Czech tennis player Renata Voráčová; NBA players Kyrie Irving and Jonathan Isaac; American golfer Bryson DeChambeau; and professional footballers Aaron Rodgers, Cole Beasley, Vernon Butler, and Star Lotulelei. The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science bookhttps://www.nbtiller.comSkeptical Inquirer magazinehttps://www.skepticalinquirer.orgOriginal article & references:https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/is-sport-a-breeding-ground-for-pseudoscience/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If my recent work as a health and wellness skeptic could be distilled into a single message, it would be this: Marketing companies understand our biases better than we do. In a commercialist culture, saturated by big business and bad science, I believe this to be a fundamental lesson in determining objective truths and making sound judgments. The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science bookhttps://www.nbtiller.comSkeptical Inquirer magazinehttps://www.skepticalinquirer.orgOriginal article & references:https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/ten-health-and-wellness-fallacies-every-skeptic-should-know/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.