Misleading description

No evidence

Look out for a “lack of evidence” being described as evidence of “no difference”.

Sometimes, when the difference in what happens (outcomes) in a comparison of interventions is unclear, people say there is “no evidence” that one nutrition intervention is better or worse than the other. This lack of evidence is often taken to mean that there is “no difference” between the nutrition interventions, which is incorrect. If there is a lack of evidence, we cannot be sure that there is no important difference, or whether one nutrition intervention is better or worse than the other.

REMEMBER: Don’t confuse “no evidence” or “a lack of evidence” with “no difference” or “no effect.” And don’t be fooled if someone says there is “no difference” or “no effect”, when in fact there is a lack of evidence.