Over the years, observational studies to assess relationships between diet and health have increasingly taken center-stage in the news, with attention-grabbing headlines in the media and on social channels. Misinformation abounds. Unfortunately, observational studies cannot prove causation. In fact, according to the Dietary Guidelines’ Scientific Foundation Report: “Observational studies provide important insights for generating hypotheses and understanding real-world patterns, but they cannot by themselves determine whether a dietary exposure truly causes or prevents disease. (That’s because) People who follow diet guidelines often differ in other ways…that are difficult or impossible to measure and adjust for.”¹ It is therefore crucial that dietitians understand the role observational studies play in public health.

Join Dr. Dominik D. Alexander, PhD, MSPH, on Tuesday, September 15, from 2-3 p.m. ET, for a webinar that will help to inform dietitians on how best to interpret and evaluate findings from observational studies and clarify their relevance to public health. The presentation will demonstrate how these studies should be considered when making health and wellness recommendations for patients and clients and will include an explanation of the terminology used in nutrition epidemiology.