Epidemiological analysis of red meat consumption and cancer risk

Epidemiological Study on the Link Between Red Meat and Cancer

Media sources have constantly reported the results of epidemiological studies with great drama. While these reports are driven by hyperbolic headlines due to excitement, epidemiologic research are usually driven by real science with significant implications for practice in public health. In the past few months, media sources have carried out reports with hyperbolic headlines on the issue of whether red meat contributes to cancer. These reports have been based on a recent publication by the World Health Organization that red meat enhances the risk of cancer. An example of these reports is the publication on The Daily Mail on whether people should eat red meat based on recent reports that it actually increases the risk of cancer.

Article Summary

Reynolds (2016) published a report on The Daily Mail on whether red meat increases an individual's risk of cancer in light of recent reports that it actually does so. The researcher provided the publication on the premise that there are many kinds of red meat and red meat products that are available in today's market. These food items range from products in farmers' markets, restaurants, and supermarkets. In addition to the wide availability, the impact of consumption and production of red meat and red meat products is complex. The reporter states that even though consuming red meat and its associated products is part of a balanced diet, it increases the risk of cancer. This is primarily because fatty red meat and processed red meat products contain potentially harmful nutrients like saturated fats that could contribute to cancer. Therefore, consumption of red meat is both beneficial and harmful with regards to being part of a balanced diet and increasing risk of cancer respectively.

Current Practice of Epidemiology

This article has provided significant insights on current practice of epidemiology by demonstrating one of the various approaches utilized by researchers when conducting an epidemiological study. One of the greatest insights obtained from this article is that some epidemiological studies such as cross-sectional studies can be utilized to represent or cover a huge population on the specific health issue. For instance, the researcher's conclusion regarding the benefits and dangers of red meat consumption are applicable to an entire population rather than a specific group in the study. This article reflects the increased use of epidemiological methods in investigating disease occurrence, which has characterized the historic development of epidemiology in the 19th and 20th centuries (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). Disease occurrence has characterized recent epidemiological studies in public health and acted as an important aspect in the history of epidemiology. The study has been informed by previous historical epidemiological studies on the significance of red meat as part of a balanced diet.