International journal of obesity : journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity
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'White hat bias' (WHB) (bias leading to distortion of information in the service of what may be perceived to be righteous ends) is documented through quantitative data and anecdotal evidence from the research record regarding the postulated predisposing and protective effects of nutritively sweetened beverages and breastfeeding, respectively, on obesity. Evidence of an apparent WHB is found in a degree sufficient to mislead readers. WHB bias may be conjectured to be fuelled by feelings of righteous zeal, indignation toward certain aspects of industry or other factors. Readers should beware of WHB, and our field should seek methods to minimize it.
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The PNPLA3 I148M variant (rs738409) is robustly associated with hepatic steatosis. Intriguingly, initial findings in cohorts with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg m(-2) also suggested that it is associated with elevated liver enzymes but not with insulin resistance and dyslipidaemia. ⋯ Obese Southern Europeans carrying the 148M allele have increased indices of liver damage uncoupled from proxy measures of insulin resistance.