Observational studies are more likely to bring to light new relationships that might make for interesting headlines, like the finding that statins reduce the risk of cancer (they don’t). And when observational studies are covered, their limitations are rarely brought up.56 Subsequently published meta-analyses—papers that pool the cumulative research that has occurred in an area—that might go on to refute those early, exciting results are just not as sexy. In fact, research suggests that at least half of research studies that you may read about in a newspaper are not confirmed subsequently.
