I was scourging the Internet today and noticed a NPR article entitled, “Hotel Maids Challenge the Placebo Effect” that caught my attention. The article is in reference to a study by Harvard psychologists, Ellen Langer and Alia Crum entitled, “Mind-Set Matters: Exercise and the Placebo Effect.” I do not like articles like this that do not have the study information. As much as I like NPR, I want to read the underlying study myself to see if I agree with the gist of the article. I had to search by the researchers name along with the word maid and I finally found the name of the study. I then connected to my alma matter (university) library and pulled a copy of the study. I will evaluate this study from a layman’s perspective (I have a MBA and while I can read this study and draw some conclusions, I am not a psychologist).

While researching this topic I did find the link to the Surgeon Generals Health Weight Advice for Consumers here. The advice in a nutshell is to have a goal, keep active and eat well. The page has a lot of information that can assist a person to make wise decisions about diet and exercise. I will go over this study and point out some areas I think have merit as well as a couple of logical problems. I think anyone interested in this study should read the actual study for yourself but I will be glad to venture my opinion.

Continue »