Vegetarians are smarter than meat eaters

[Skyhunter]

I wonder what the margin of error was for this study anyway?

We all know there's more vegetarians in California than hicktown or Africa. It's demographics.

The study was conducted in Great Britain.

 

[Skyhunter]

I don't think that's meat...

I don't even think it is food.

 

[Skyhunter]

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/bmj.39030.675069.55v1"

Thanks Yunoz.

Here is the whole study in PDF form.

http://press.psprings.co.uk/bmj/december/vegetarian.pdf

 

[Evo]

On average, vegetarians had a higher childhood IQ score
than non-vegetarians.According to sex, the mean (SD)
childhood IQ score of vegetarians compared with nonvegetarians
was 106.1 (14.7) and 100.6 (15.2) for men and 104.0
(14.1) and 99.0 (14.7) for women, differences of 5.5 and 5.0
points (P < 0.001).

So a small portion of mid-average IQ kids now claim to be vegetarian.

Kids that are now vegan had scores averaging 10 points lower, or almost in the "Dullness" category.When vegetarians were divided into those who were strictly vegetarian (no fish or meat) and those who consumed fish or
chicken, no difference was found in IQ score.Among those who
had taken vegetarianism to its logical conclusion (“gone the
whole hog,”, as it were) and become vegan (no animal products),
mean IQ scores were lower.On average, vegans had a childhood
IQ score that was nearly 10 points lower than other vegetarians:
mean (SD) IQ score 95.1 (14.8) in vegans compared with 104.8
(14.1) in other vegetarians (P = 0.04), although this estimate must
be viewed with caution as only nine participants were vegan.

IQ Range Classification

140 and over Genius or near genius
120-140 Very superior intelligence
110-120 Superior intelligence
90-110 Normal or average intelligence
80-90 Dullness
70-80 Borderline deficiency
Below 70 Definite feeble-mindedness

http://members.shaw.ca/delajara/IQBasics.html

 

[DaveC426913]

I don't even think it is food.

Sure it is.
It's a food, a packaging wrap and a disinfectant. It just depends on what colour additive you use.

 

[Moonbear]

When vegetarians were divided into those who were strictly vegetarian (no fish or meat) and those who consumed fish or
chicken, no difference was found in IQ score.
http://members.shaw.ca/delajara/IQBasics.html

So, doesn't that say there's no difference? If you eat fish and chicken, you're NOT a vegetarian, even if you claim to be, so if they don't find any difference in those groups, there's no effect. I would guess those two groups are probably closer matched for vegetable eating, so it could be an effect of childhood IQ on healthy food choices later in life. Though, do they say anything about their IQ as adults?

I'm still sticking with my earlier interpretation that it suggests that on average, people are average. All of those averages are within the average IQ range. I don't think it would mean anything anyway, even if they saw a huge difference between the groups. What would you do with the results? Having a particular IQ at 10 years old puts you at risk of being vegetarian as an adult? Is there an intervention necessary there?

 

[Cyrus]

Honestly, are studies like these actually useful other than making nice filler on the AOL/MSN homepage?


I think I am going to do a study on the effects of reading books on IQ...darrrrrrrr. (that's me, talking retarded)

 

[Integral]

Is a 5 point variation in IQ scores meaningful?

Let's face it, the entire IQ process is imprecise. What does it mean to have a variation, which is on the order of, or perhaps less then, the variation that the tests can resolve. I do not believe that the standard IQ test can meaningfully resolve inside of 10 points. Is a 5 point difference even statistically significant?

 

[Danger]

I look at it this way:
If a vegetarian and a carnivore are stranded on a desert island together, who will survive longer?

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I look at it this way:
If a vegetarian and a carnivore are stranded on a desert island together, who will survive longer?

Mmmmmmm, that long-pig was tasty and smart.

 

[MeJennifer]

I look at it this way:
If a vegetarian and a carnivore are stranded on a desert island together, who will survive longer?

But water is the real problem on a desert island.

 

[Danger]

That's why you always save the kidneys and bladder; they're used to purify and store seawater.

 

[radou]

An old conclusion: nothing's bad, and so isn't eating meet, unless you're overdoing it. As for such studies as given in post #1, I was not even interested in clicking on the link.

 

[Mk]

Originally Posted by Mk
I wonder what the margin of error was for this study anyway?

We all know there's more vegetarians in California than hicktown or Africa. It's demographics

The study was conducted in Great Britain.

I suppose it was, but that's not what I meant. Just to nitpick, I meant, basically:

Richer (scale?) people tend to be smarter (positive feedback)
Of these people, many can afford to be vegetarians.

Poorer people aren't as smart.
And they can't afford to be vegetarians.

 

[radou]

Poorer people aren't as smart.
And they can't afford to be vegetarians.

I'd rather say that poorer people have other issues and problems in life, and they don't have the time nor will to think about their diet.

 

[Chi Meson]

I'd rather say that poorer people have other issues and problems in life, and they don't have the time nor will to think about their diet.

I think that the last two statements are actually in agreement. I've noticed that most (for lack of a better word) progressive ways of life (some might use the word liberal instead of progressive, but that's not the point), things like recycling, conscientious purchasing, low-impact living, and vegetarianism are indeed "luxuries." Not to say that they are exclusive to the rich, but they definitely require attention, forethought, and deliberate action. In many cases, this mode of life will be less expensive than the "simpler" and more wasteful way of Western culture. Still, it is a "cultural luxury" that tends to favor those with better thinking and planning power.

[/$.02]

 

[Moonbear]

Mmmmmmm, that long-pig was tasty and smart.

Yep, corn fed.

 

[arildno]

I've never understood vegetarians:
How can they prefer a wilted piece of salad to a tasty piece of meat?

 

[turbo]

I've never understood vegetarians:
How can they prefer a wilted piece of salad to a tasty piece of meat?

Really! I do think that intelligence correlates with diet. For instance, I'd feel pretty dumb saying "No filet mignon for me, please. I'll have hummus with carrot sticks and rice cakes."

 

[arildno]

I happen to LIKE carrots.

 

[Danger]

My ancestors spent several million years clawing their way to the top of the food chain just so I could feast upon the losers. It would be unthinkable to disrespect their efforts.

 

[arildno]

My ancestors spent several million years clawing their way to the top of the food chain just so I could feast upon the losers. It would be unthinkable to disrespect their efforts.

You have it right.

Submit to your superiors, and feast on the flesh of everyone else.

 

[radou]

You have it right.

Submit to your superiors, and feast on the flesh of everyone else.

...and wear their furry skin.

 

[arildno]

Or weary their smooth skin.
Be wary of tears, though..

 

[Moonbear]

Maybe the title should read: Vegetarians WERE smarter than meat eaters...until they grew up and became vegetarians.

 

[turbo]

Maybe the title should read: Vegetarians WERE smarter than meat eaters...until they grew up and became vegetarians.

They'll pay for their habits. Notice that all the people getting dangerous e coli infections from food are the ones that ate the scallions, lettuce, and salads, not the ones who stuck with the ribs and chops.

 

[Mk]

Then again there was the mad cow scare last year.

 

[Moonbear]

Then again there was the mad cow scare last year.

And how many people were infected with mad cow disease? There's a difference between actual E. coli outbreaks infecting 100s of people and a mad cow scare where the disease was detected before the meat even made it to market.

 

[jim mcnamara]

Mad Cow raises an interesting point.

The US reports in excess of 60000 people/year die from influenza. The US currently has a lot of unused influenza vaccine. Meaning people are not moved enough to bother with getting protection against a known killer - but go berserk over Mad Cow Disease. Go figure.

 

[verty]

The US reports in excess of 60000 people/year die from influenza. The US currently has a lot of unused influenza vaccine. Meaning people are not moved enough to bother with getting protection against a known killer - but go berserk over Mad Cow Disease. Go figure.

Yes, but were those people poor, old, etc?