In the study titled “Tobacco Use Moderates the Association Between Major Depression and Obesity”, the researchers attempt to draw a relationship between tobacco consumption and its effects on obesity. In the process, they apply credible research methods and arguments in support of their hypothesis in a process that largely passes the test of scrutiny.
The key words used in the journal are major depression (MD), tobacco use, smoking, obesity and body mass index (BMI). The authors consistently use these terms to anchor their study and explain their findings. Except for the term, body mass index and obesity (defined as weight divided by height and a BMI above 30 respectively), the authors expect the reader to understand the other terms in relation to their common English meanings. As a result, they do not provide the definitions.
As far as evidence is concerned, the journal’s contents support the researchers’ points. These points stem from the study through a correlation analysis of the characteristics observed in the test subjects using the key terms provided above. The research team subjected its hypothesis to rigorous examination criteria in a bid to prove their point.
Consequently, the correlation analysis produces evidence that is convincing because it clearly links human behavior (the habit of smoking) to health effects (reactions in the bodies and minds of people suffering depression). This approach opens new channels of speculation and possibly greater knowledge by choosing to examine a very unlikely relationship in an area of medical health rarely examined by qualified minds due to its awkward requirement to venture into the benefits of a habit condemned as harmful.
In the process, the researchers challenge a number of assumptions concerning the smoking habits of MD sufferers. One of the key assumptions comes from a study that says gender moderates the relationship between MD and obesity (Carpenter et al., 2000) as well as the link between smoking and MD with stronger associations among women. The researchers used supplemental analyses that showed the moderating influence of MD on obesity did not significantly differ by gender and found that the extent to which tobacco use offset MD-obesity relationships was similar for both genders.
On their part, the researchers build their argument on a number of assumptions. Among them, we find the assumption that concurrent tobacco use at any level of severity could diminish the MD-obesity association. Basing their argument on the maladaptive coping explanation, the researchers’ findings prove that MD and obesity are associated because depressed individuals engage in unhealthy habits to cope with their depression, which could lead to increased obesity risk. However, MD sufferers who consume tobacco due to the moderating effects that it has on them show a lower prevalence rate. A second assumption applied by the researchers is because obesity is associated with increased mortality from cardiovascular disease and cancers. This makes the team turn to BMI ≥ 30 as the basis for measuring obesity because a lower BMI may not support the hypothesis. As a result, the measure affects none of the findings.
The article evokes emotions of amazement because there is a global consensus that considers tobacco an addiction highly detrimental to health. What we see in the journal article is new, credible research suggesting that smoking may actually help those suffering serious depression to cope with their state and seek to overcome their difficulties by momentary usage. Such emotions influence one to accept this journal because the findings are revolutionary and contrarian yet supported by hard scientific evidence. The approach applied is entirely reliable since the researchers subject possible areas of weakness to internal scrutiny to avoid building a shaky argument.
The research team studiously avoids “either-or thinking” and prefers to mention the possibility of alternatives in cases where issues are not clear. This comes out in the instance when they examine the possibility of gender being a moderator of the relationship between obesity and MD as suggested by previous studies. The lack of evidence to support this in their study comes out in an alternative explanation that says the lack of gender differences is because both men and women may use tobacco to counteract the depressogenic effects of obesity. The researchers also argue by using references to previous studies, either to augment their case or to discount an assumption that may block the path to proving their hypothesis. Argument by evidence takes precedence over arguing by anecdote.
Despite the sterling effort, questions still arise on the depth of the study. For example, what is the long-term effect of tobacco use on MD sufferers and does this leads to a cure of the depressive state? Does the use of tobacco only have a fleeting positive effect in the short-term or is there a possibility that it becomes a potential therapy system for sufferers. If the latter case is true, does the use of tobacco among MD sufferers pose a significant threat to their health in other ways? Will the MD sufferer turn to tobacco for relief only to cause cancer?
To answer the final query, the client needs to add the conclusion.
Reference
Carpenter, K. M. (2000). Relationships between Obesity and DSM–IV Major Depressive Disorder,Suicide Ideation and Suicide Attempts: Results from a General Population Study. American Journal of Public Health , 90, 251–257.