File under: another study parents will abuse their children with at the dinner table. A Southampton University study group found those with higher IQs at the age of ten became vegetarians by age 30, according to BBC News. Based on the results of IQ tests taken in 1970, children who scored an average of 5 IQ points more at age ten reported being vegetarians later in life.
Before you dash off to Whole Foods, it is worth noting that there seem to be some subtle semantic issues and questions of logic surrounding the study. First, more than 100 of the “vegetarians” reported eating either chicken or fish, and “there was no difference in IQ score between strict vegetarians and those who said they were vegetarian but who reported eating fish or chicken.” The study also raised serious questions of cause and effect in the medical community, leading some to reference the old “chicken or the egg” debate. “Do people become vegetarian because they have a very high IQ or is it just that they tend to be more aware of health issues,” wondered Dr. Frankie Phillips, of the British Dietetic Association, in the article.
Here’s what the bloggers are chewing on:
“As if some vegetarians aren’t already insufferable enough, now we have to deal with this? I kid, I kid.” — Kate Hopkins, accidentalhedonist.com
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“Of note, the article says that nearly 1/3 of the ‘vegetarians’ report eating either fish or chicken…which, from my limited understanding of vegetarianism, makes them non-vegetarians. This begs the question — does not eating meat make you a liar? Oh woah…slippery slope.” — Jessica, craigandjessica.com
“‘Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.’ — Einstein” — mykoo, clipmarks.com
“Humans evolved as omnivores so I doubt that totally giving up meat is likely to be the smartest move, despite the IQ advantages. You can’t eat an IQ level and a filet mignon still tastes mighty good. Medium rare please.” Paul, simivalleysophist.blogspot.com
Talk: Does the study make you crave steak tartare or the salad bar? COMMENT
On the Web:
news.bbc.co.uk
