A Chink in Oprah's Armor

Is She Putting Your Health At Risk?

The list of Oprah Winfrey's accomplishments is long. The value of what she brings to her viewers and readers, and to communities worldwide is enormous. Yet, as Newsweek tells it in their June 8 cover story, "Crazy Talk: Oprah, Wacky Cures & You," there is danger in her embrace of alternative therapies -- danger to the public health and danger to her reputation.

The article discusses several cases where both lay and professional health "experts" have dispensed potentially dangerous advice, including the use of Tarot cards to diagnose illnesses, refusal of vaccinations, and self-medicating with hormones, herbal supplements and mega-doses of vitamins. Moreover, Oprah herself has spoken positively about a number of these "treatments" and "cures," providing an endorsement of gigantic proportions.

In response to the article and the condemnation of mainstream medicine, Oprah released a statement saying, "For 23 years, my show has presented thousands of topics that reflect the human experience, including doctors' advice and personal health stories that have prompted conversations between our audience members and healthcare providers. I trust viewers, and know that they are smart and discerning enough to seek out medical opinions to determine what may be best for them."

Let's break this down:

1. Doctors' advice. Yes, Oprah has welcomed quite a few esteemed medical experts who have clearly and accurately described a wide variety of medical conditions and potential interventions. Some physicians and their advice are more equal than others, however. There is a cadre of highly credentialed individuals who have repudiated peer-reviewed data in favor of so-called natural remedies. Dr. R.W. Donnell, the physician blogger, calls them “quackademics.” The article highlighted Christaine Northrup, M.D. who said that, "in many women, thyroid dysfunction develops because of an energy blockage in the throat region, the result of a lifetime of 'swallowing' words one is aching to say." She also said women should consider iodine supplements (which, in reality, will make hypothyroidism worse). Oprah calls Northrup's book, The Wisdom of Menopause, her "Bible."

2. Personal health stories. We all know that information conveyed in a personal, emotional way connects with audiences better than just some dry facts. The flip side of this is that many times the information is less fact than it is anecdote or wishful thinking. Suzanne Somers, for example, speaks to Oprah's audience of her own quest to look younger and double her lifespan with a regimen of non-FDA approved bioidentical hormones and 60 other supplements, which she ingests, applies and injects. Though a personal story, Somers wants to be viewed as an expert. "I have spent thousands of hours on this. I've written 18 books. I know my stuff," she told Newsweek. Oprah said "every woman should read" Somers' books.

3. Trusting viewers. In my view, the word "trust" is just not applicable here. The issue is whether or not her viewers are a) exposed to other sources of information and b) able to differentiate real science from junk science. This is not an issue of smarts, either. The point is that, while there are plenty of intelligent Americans, the vast majority have low health literacy. In a survey of more than 19,000 adults (age 16 and up) conducted a few years ago by the National Center for Education Statistics, only 11% where found to be "proficient" in their health literacy. The majority, 53%, where in the "intermediate range," while 22% had "basic" and 14% "below basic" health literacy. Without proficiency, it is exceedingly difficult to integrate, synthesize and analyze the sometimes complex information that one is expected to tackle.

Is this Oprah's "jump the shark" moment? Her ratings are down as is readership in her magazine, O. But I hope the answer is no. Rather than defend the past and continue on this course, Oprah should seize the opportunity to do better in the future. Please Oprah, ensure that all sides of the medical argument are heard. Leverage your reach and good intentions by being a champion of health and science literacy.